Tag: altar
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An Act of Prayer for Saint Joseph
Women devotees prepare altars for weeks leading up to the La Festa di San Giuseppe or Saint Joseph’s Day. The breads that they create, most of which are not meant to be eaten, are artistically shaped into wreaths, lilies, daisies, fava beans in their pods, fish, butterflies, doves, chalices, hearts, hands, and carpentry tools such…
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Saint Joseph’s Day: Bread Loaves of Devotion
Most prominent element of the altars for Saint Joseph, or le tavolate di San Giuseppe, are the sculpted loaves of bread that represent fertility and prosperity. Celebrate Saint Joseph’s Day in New York City with Experience Sicily, Gelsomino Imports, and Eolo Seasonal Sicilian Kitchen on Sunday, March 20 at 3PM. More details at http://eolonewyork.com/st-josephs-day-feast-2016/. Call…
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Saint Joseph’s Day: A Celebration of Bread
Probably the most distinct ritual of Saint Joseph’s Day revolves around the celebration of bread, which in Sicily and southern Italy is sacred because wheat is the most important crop of the region. The preparation of altars, or tables, known as le tavolate di San Giuseppe (or a Tavulatu di San Giuseppe in Sicilian), are…
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Patroness of Light
Altar featuring Santa Lucia, Ortigia, Siracusa. Join us on Sunday, December 13 in New York City! Experience Sicily is partnering with Eolo Seasonal Sicilian Kitchen for a special afternoon feast celebrating Santa Lucia. We’ll enjoy traditional dishes (cuccia and arancine), live music (by Villa Palagonia), and a lecture-discussion about the feast (led by Allison…
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The Feast of the Immaculate Conception
Festa dell’Immacolata or the Feast of the Immaculate Conception is celebrated throughout Italy on December 8. The day recognizes that the Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus, was conceived without original sin–something with which, in Catholic dogma, every person is considered to have been born. In Sicily, on December 7th and 8th, there are many…
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Folk Altar
Altar for the Madonna, Taormina.
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Prayers for Thanksgiving, Charity, and Abundance
March 19 is the Festa di San Giuseppe or Saint Joseph’s Day. Legend is that in Sicily and southern Italy during the 10th century, a drought caused a severe famine. The faithful prayed to Saint Joseph to bring rain, and in return, they promised to hold a feast in his honor. Rain and recovery from…
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Fluorescent Dedication
Small homegrown shrines are very common in Sicily. This one is dedicated to the recently canonized (2002) Padre Pio (1887-1968). (Previously posted on 14 September 2013.)
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Loaves for Thanksgiving
This photo of a St. Joseph’s Day (or Festa di San Giuseppe) altar is by Salvatore Farina. It was taken in the town of Salemi which is renowned for its “tavolate” of bread and other foods particular to celebrating this very important Sicilian feast that takes place annually on March 19. I’ve written about it…