La Festa di San Giuseppe

March 20, 2009

Yesterday, March 19th, was the day to celebrate the Feast of Saint Joseph. If you grew up Italian-American as I did, you probably went to someone’s home or your Catholic church to celebrate at a St. Joseph’s day table decorated with flowers, candles, wine, fava beans, specially prepared cakes, breads, and cookies (as well as other meatless dishes). Foods are traditionally served containing bread crumbs to represent saw dust since St. Joseph was a carpenter. The “feast” was typically free or by donation and served to extend some help to those in need.

According to legend, this all started during the Middle Ages when St. Joseph was considered by many to be the patron saint of Sicily. During this time, there was a terrible drought and the people prayed to St. Joseph for rain promising a large feast in his honor if he brought rain. Apparently it did rain sparing the people of Sicily who to this day in Italy and American still prepare the St. Joseph’s day feast in his honor on March 19th.

The photos are from Thursday’s St. Joseph’s table at Holy Rosary Church in Kansas City. This church was the home parish to the city’s early Italian immigrants. My mom helped make the cookies!