How to Celebrate St. Joseph's Day

St. Joseph's Day, a Roman Catholic holiday, celebrates the birth of St. Joseph, the Blessed Virgin Mary's husband and the foster father of Jesus. During a famine in Sicily, Catholics prayed for St. Joseph to intercede and bring them food and when their prayers were answered La Festa di San Giuseppe ("The Feast of St. Joseph") became a yearly event, taking place on March 19th, St. Joseph's birthday.

Difficulty:

Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Fava beans
• Zeppole pastry
• Red clothing
• Altar

1. Abstain from eating meat. Although avoiding meat isn't forbidden by the church, many Catholic families still observe this tradition. Fava beans, pasta, fish and stuffed artichokes replace meat at dinner tables on St. Joseph's Day. Many families consider giving food to the homeless and needy on this holiday.

2. Wear red. Italians and Sicilians break out the red clothing on St. Joseph's Day, just like the Irish do on St. Patrick's Day.

3. Erect an altar to St. Joseph. A tradition started in Italy and Sicily, many families offer flowers, cakes, cookies and limes to St. Joseph. Catholics place a pastry called Zeppole on altars in some Italian and Italian-American communities. Formal St. Joseph altars, such as those placed in churches, contain three tiers to signify the Trinity.

4. Attend a St. Joseph's Day parade. In the United States, the Italian residents of New Orleans conduct St. Joseph's parades and build altars to the Saint, publicly and privately. Chicago, Boston and New York City also sponsor official St. Joseph's Day parades and celebrations.

5. Go to church. Celebrate St. Joseph's Day by attending mass and saying the Novena to St. Joseph. Known as the Patron Saint of workers, parishioners may also honor St. Joseph's memory on May 1st, or May Day.

Resources

• Read more about St. Joseph's Day
• Check out St. Joseph's Day customs and recipes here