Saint Joseph's Day

Saint Joseph's Day, commonly called the Feast of St. Joseph or in some churches, the Solemnity of Saint Joseph is marked in some Christian churches in honor of Saint Joseph, spouse of Mary and foster father of Jesus. Falling on March 19, it is a Solemnity in the Roman Catholic Church, a feast in the provinces of the Anglican Communion, and a feast or festival in the Lutheran Church. In the Orthodox Church, the feast falls on the Sunday after Christmas.

Saint Bernardino of Siena was the main proponent of Joseph's veneration in the western Church, where his feast day was first celebrated in 1621. In 1870, Pope Pius IX declared Joseph the patron of the Universal Church, and promoted the "Patronage" feast of Saint Joseph (later called the "Solemnity of Saint Joseph" before the Vatican II calendar's use of the term solemnity) on the third Wednesday after Easter. In 1955 this solemnity was replaced by the optional feast of Saint Joseph the Worker, which occurs on May 1, intentionally coinciding with the international labour day or May Day.

Saint Joseph's Day is the Patronal Feast day for persons named Joseph, Josephine, etc., for religious orders, schools and parishes bearing his name, and for carpenters. He is also the patron saint of the Universal Church, workers, and families.

Catholic traditions of St. Joseph's Day, 19 March

Because March 19 always falls during Lent, St. Joseph's Day feasts often have no meat, even though—because the feast day is classed as a solemnity—abstinence from meat is not required according to Canon law, even if it falls on a Friday. If the feast day falls on a Sunday (other than Palm Sunday), it is observed on the next later available date instead: this is the following day, Monday, 20 March. From 2008 onwards, if St Joseph's Day falls during Holy Week, it is moved to the next earlier available date, usually the Saturday before Holy Week. This change was announced by the Congregation for Divine Worship in Notitiae March-April, 2006 (475-476, page 96). The idea was to avoid the "traffic jam" that would occur under the old rules if both St Joseph's Day and the Annunciation had to be moved to the first available date after Easter Week. This does not apply to Traditionalist Catholics who follow the older calendar and maintain the feast on March 19.

Italy - La Festa di San Giuseppe

In Sicily, where St. Joseph is regarded by many as their Patron Saint, and many Italian-American communities, thanks are given to St. Joseph ("San Giuseppe" in Italian) for preventing a famine in Sicily during the Middle Ages. According to legend, there was a severe drought at the time, and the people prayed for their patron saint to bring them rain. They promised that if he answered their prayers, they would prepare a large feast to honor him. The rain did come, and the people of Sicily prepared a large banquet for their patron saint. The fava bean was the crop which saved the population from starvation, and is a traditional part of St. Joseph's Day altars and traditions. Giving food to the needy is a St. Joseph's Day custom. In some communities it is traditional to wear red clothing and eat a Sicilian pastry known as a Zeppole on St. Joseph's Day.

Altars are also a prevalent tradition. Upon a typical St. Joseph's Day altar, people place flowers, limes, candles, wine, fava beans, specially prepared cakes, breads, and cookies (as well as other meatless dishes), and zeppole. Foods are traditionally served containing bread crumbs to represent saw dust since St. Joseph was a carpenter. Because the feast occurs during Lent, traditionally no meat was allowed on the celebration table. The altar usually has three tiers, to represent the trinity.

Some villages like Belmonte Mezzagno use to burn wood and logs in squares on the day before St.Joseph, as thanksgiving to the Saint. This is called "'A Vampa di San Giuseppe"(the Saint Joseph's bonfire)

Italian celebrations in the United States

In New Orleans, Louisiana, which was a major port of entry for Sicilian immigrants during the late 19th century, the Feast of St. Joseph is a city-wide event. Both public and private St. Joseph's altars are traditionally built. The altars are usually open to any visitor who wishes to pay homage. The food is generally distributed to charity after the altar is dismantled.

There are also parades in honor of St. Joseph and the Italian population of New Orleans which are similar to the marching clubs and truck parades of Mardi Gras and St. Patrick's Day. Tradition in New Orleans also holds that by burying a small statue of St. Joseph in your yard, your house will sell more promptly. In addition to the above traditions, some groups of Mardi Gras Indians stage their last procession of the season on the Sunday prior to St. Joseph's day otherwise known as "Super Sunday," after which their costumes are dismantled.

Traditional St. Joseph's Altar in New Orleans

St Joseph's Day is also celebrated in other American communities with high proportions of Italians such as New York City; Buffalo, New York; Chicago ; Kansas City,MO and Rhode Island.

• Michael Faria currently holds the Lincoln, Rhode Island record for most Zeppolles eaten by one man. He once consumed 169 Zeppolles in one sitting.

Other US traditions

At Mission San Juan Capistrano in San Juan Capistrano, California, a festival celebrates the return of migratory swallows.

Malta

This is one of the public holidays in Malta, known as Jum San Ġużepp. In this day people celebrate mass in the morning, and in the afternoon go for a picnic in the countryside. It is a liturgical feast in the localities of Kalkara, Manikata, Msida, and Qala, but the Maltese typical festa each of these localities celebrate it in a particular Sunday in summer. However, the city of Rabat celebrates the traditional Maltese feast on the 19th of March, where in the evening a procession is also held with the statue of St Joseph. On this day also the city of Żejtun celebrates the day, known as Jum iż-Żejtun (Zejtun's Day). In the past years the Żejtun Parish Church has celebrated these feast days with a procession with the statue of St Joseph.

Spain

Main article: Falles

In Spain, the day is a version of Father's Day. In some parts of Spain it is celebrated as Falles.

Philippines

In The Philippines, many families keep a tradition in which an old man, a young lady and a small boy are chosen from among the poor and dressed up as St. Joseph, the Virgin Mary, and the child Jesus respectively. They then sit around a table set with the family's best silverware and china, and served a variety of courses and are literally spoon-fed by senior members of the family, while the novena to St. Joseph is recited at a nearby temporary altar.

See also

• Calendar of saints

External links

• Catholic Church Calendar
• Anglican Calendar
• The Feast of San Giuseppe
• St. Joseph's Day Altars