The Staff, Wreath, And Palm: Ritual Bread For Saint Joseph’s Day

Join me to recognize St. Joseph’s Day on Thursday, March 18 at 8PM Eastern.

Register at https://experiencesicily.com/st-josephs-day-online/

You’ll learn more about the feast. Such as, on traditional St. Joseph’s Day altars or le tavolate di San Giuseppe, you will see these three types of loaves pictured. On the left is the staff (vastuni), which represents Joseph, the father (the symbol of male fertility), who you will often see carrying a baton in his imagery. In the center is a round wreath (cuddureddi), which illustrates Mary, the mother (the representative of female fertility/the womb/goddess of the grain), and on the right, a palm (parma), which designates Jesus, the son and the martyr (also eternal life/rebirth/spring/life cycle). It’s very profound. Then within those forms, you’ll see other imagery, such as grapes (wine harvest and prosperity), fish (innocence), flowers (elevated spirituality, detachment from earthly possessions). I hope to see you Thursday night!

Allison Scola Avatar

About the author

Allison Scola is founder, owner, and curator of Experience Sicily and the Cannoli Crawl. Named one of the experts for the 2019 New York Times Travel Show, Scola writes and lectures on Sicily and leads immersive tours and designs custom itineraries that delight discerning travelers. She has been featured on Rudy Maxa’s World with the Carey’s, America’s #1 Travel Radio Show and as the cannoli expert in the documentary Cannoli, Traditions Around the Table. Scola has lectured about Sicily at University of Pennsylvania, The New School, LIU Post University, Queens College, Westchester Italian Cultural Center, at high schools in the New York City metropolitan area, and at events in New York City.

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