Celebrating St. Joseph’s Day

A small Italian bakery on the north end of Chicago known as Il Giardino Del Dolce, overflows with customers today, March 19, which is St. Joseph’s day, a holiday which involves eating many traditional Italian pastries, most popularly the Italian zappole which is this bakery’s specialty. The bakery was overflowing with people by 10 am on the morning of St. Joseph’s day, with people of all nationalities. This bakery makes over 5,000 zappole (a traditional Italian fried dough) for St. Joseph’s day every year. The women behind the counter were running back and forth trying to accommodate all the customers, as they were all chattering in different languages including Italian, Spanish, Polish, and  English. This very culturally diverse environment created a union of traditional beliefs among many different people which created a very positive atmosphere. St. Joseph’s day brought together a group of people which would otherwise probably not unite in this manor, everyone was happy and excited to spend time with their families and feast all day.

Read Full Post »

St. Joseph’s Day Traditions

St. Joseph’s day is usually celebrated two days after St. Patrick’s day, where for St. Patty’s day everyone overloads their bodies with alcohol, and St. Joseph’s day is the opposite, everyone overloads their bodies with food. People who celebrate St. Joseph’s day usually prepare a huge feast usually including minestrone, pasta, seafood, and fava beans. Fava beans are a big symbol of St. Joseph’s day because it was a crop that saved the people from starvation during the famine of the Middle Ages. Also for those who attend mass, afterwards food is served to all who are needy. The tradition is to wear the color red on St. Joseph’s day as the color green is worn for St. Patrick’s Day. St. Joseph is the Patron Saint of pastry chefs, therefore sweets are very important on this day, especially the Italian pastry known as the zeppola. Traditionally people go to mass and place a variety of symbolic items on the Alter, including flowers, cakes, sweets, fava beans, zeppoli, limes, wine, and candles. In America, usually parades are held in honor of the holiday.

Read Full Post »

St. Joseph’s Day History

St. Joseph’s day, also known as The Feast of St. Joseph, is a holiday which arose within most western Christian communities, however has very strong roots in the Italy. St. Joseph’s day is celebrated on March 19, however in recent years, the holiday is moved if it falls during holy week. St. Joseph was the spouse of the Virgin Mary, and the feast is prepared every year in his honor. The holiday was recorded in most Western calenders by the tenth century, Italy being one of the first to adapt it in 1479. The Legend has it that this holiday began when there was a long drought in Sicily during the Middle Ages, and the people prayed to their St. Joseph promising that if he brought them rain they would prepare a feast in his honor. Sure enough it rained, and they prepared a feast in his honor. They honor him for preventing famine in Italy during those dark times.

Read Full Post »