March is fast approaching, and that means that St. Joseph’s Day, celebrated annually on March 19, will be here before we know it. This year, I’m thrilled to be hosting two events celebrating the guardian-father of Jesus and the protector of carpenters, toiling workers, and of course, fathers. Please mark your calendar for March 12 and March 19, and join me to welcome spring and celebrate one of Sicily’s (and many Italian American families’) favorite feasts.

CREATE RITUAL LOAVES IN HONOR OF ST. JOSEPH
Sunday, March 12, 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Where: Cacio e Vino, 80 2nd Avenue, New York, NY
Cost: $25
What: Those who love making crafts and cooking will relish an afternoon of socializing and creating beauty with dough. Join us for ritual bread making for St. Joseph’s Day or La Festa di San Giuseppe, one of Sicily’s most important feasts.

During the afternoon you’ll learn about Sicily’s traditional St. Joseph’s Day altars and the folklore related to the feast. You’ll make your own bread loaves, like those pictured, and at the end of the session, you’ll bring home the loaves you made, which you are invited to bring back and display on the altar we’ll build for the feast celebration, also at Cacio e Vino, on Sunday, March 19.

The attendance cost pays for the supplies for making the bread loaves as well as snacks including focaccia, salami, and cheese selections (all served family-style), a glass of wine, a cappuccino or espresso, and cookies.

Read more about Saint Joseph’s Day.

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CELEBRATE ST. JOSEPH’S DAY
Sunday, March 19, 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Where: Cacio e Vino, 80 2nd Avenue, New York, NY
Cost: $55 cash/person
What: Join us to celebrate La Festa di San Giuseppe or Saint Joseph’s Day!

San Giuseppe, or Saint Joseph, is perhaps the most venerated saint south of Rome.

In the 10th century, a drought caused a severe famine. Devotees of Saint Joseph prayed to him to bring rain, and in return, they promised to hold a feast in his honor. Rain and recovery from hunger did come, and since then, the ritual-feast of Saint Joseph has been practiced.

The prix-fixe menu for the afternoon includes traditional Saint Joseph’s Day dishes, wine, soda, coffee, and tax and gratuities.

There will be a short concert of Sicilian folk songs presented by the duo Villa Palagonia and a discussion about Saint Joseph and feast traditions presented by Allison Scola of Experience Sicily. And Gelsomino Imports will have artisanal products from Sicily for sale. 

Please plan to join us! Registration details will be available in the days ahead.