Experience Sicily

Tag: saint joseph

  • 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…

  • Maccu di Favi, Fava Bean Puree

    There is no mistake that Saint Joseph’s Day coincides with the spring equinox. In the Northern Hemisphere, the month of March marks a period of scarcity before the Earth yields new crops. The festivities of the Feast are linked to the land, vegetation, and the animal kingdom. It is a feast of thanksgiving for having…

  • Saint Joseph: Patron Saint of Fathers

    San Giuseppe, or Saint Joseph, is one of the most venerated saints south of Rome. The spouse of the Virgin Mary and the guardian-father of Jesus, he is regarded as the patron saint of fathers. In fact, in Italy, Saint Joseph’s Day, March 19, is also Father’s Day. Saint Joseph is regarded as the protector…

  • 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…

  • Burn the Old

    Annually on the night of March 18, it is customary for Sicilians to light purifying bonfires. Those faithful to Saint Joseph, or San Giuseppe, burn old and broken possessions they don’t want to carry into the new agricultural year that begins on March 19 with la Festa di San Giuseppe. Read more about la Festa…

  • Let’s Talk about Sfinci

    Saint Joseph’s Day, which is on March 19, is a complex feast day with many traditions based upon the concept of thanksgiving. You can read my detailed article about it on The Inquisitive Eater at http://ow.ly/uuAuT. But let’s cut to the chase: we all really want to know about dessert, right? That’s where sfince di…

  • Pasta with Sardines for Saint Joseph’s Day

    Among the main dishes eaten for Saint Joseph’s Day, or La Festa di San Giuseppe, is Pasta with Sardines, or Pasta con le sarde. The legend of how this dish came about is another post. So today, I’m just focusing on its relevance to the upcoming March 19th feast for Saint Joseph, which falls around…

  • Patron Saint of Fathers and Carpenters

    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…