A holiday celebrated by Italians with traditional food
In Catholic tradition, the feast of St. Joseph, the husband of Mary, is celebrated on March 19, and the feast of St. Joseph as the worker is celebrated on May 1. March 19 is a relatively recent date (1621) and was officially named the Feast of the Spouses of St. Joseph of the Blessed Virgin Mary, a traditional day in the Western Church.
On March 19, the Feast of St. Joseph, Catholics honor him with an age-old tradition: the Table of St. Joseph. According to history, this tradition originated on the Italian island of Sicily. Droughts ruined harvests and led to famine. Sicilians prayed to St. Joseph, the patron saint of the family, and their prayers were answered as famine and drought abated. At its best, homage to St. Joseph comes in the form of food and celebration. Over the years, different types of food have joined the traditional collage known today as St. Joseph’s Table. All built around the theme of plenty of food for everyone.
The feast of San Giuseppe (Joseph) in Italy is an interesting example of the day. Everyone in attendance must try at least one dish containing bread, a symbol of good luck, and one dish containing fava beans, a symbol of health. These beans were originally used as animal feed and also have alternative informal names such as “horse beans” and “pigeon beans.”
Home-baked bread in various sizes and shapes is a must. Traditionally, you should choose a variety of fish. It contains shrimp and a variety of bite-sized fish, just in time for Lent in March. Squid and sardines are always served. One of the lesser-known facts about St. Joseph is his status as the patron saint of pastry chefs. The table of St. Joseph is usually filled with various pastries of all shapes and sizes, including fruits, flowers and especially symbols of the Holy Family. Don’t forget the most famous one: Zeppole di San Giuseppe al forno.
As the world would expect, New York City celebrates St. Joseph’s Day on a grand scale, with many people of Italian descent who honor the tradition of St. Joseph with mass and prayers and hold fast to family traditions and recipes. My favorite is cavazune, which is similar to a fried cookie with filling. Another popular item is puff pastry filled with ricotta cheese and chocolate, and sometimes even filled with cream puffs.
The Feast of St. Joseph is a feast day commemorating the patron saint of the family, and Catholics around the world celebrate him with prayers and devotion to him as the mediator of Almighty God through Mass, food, kinship, and fellowship.
