Move Over St. Patty, Let's Also Give it Up for St. Joseph's Day

Despite the fact, I'm not Irish, but Italian, I have always worn the "green" on St. Patrick's Day. Unless you are Italian/American or Italian from the motherland, you also celebrate the Feast of St. Joseph's Day by wearing "red" on March 19th, and eating till your heart's desire on that day. Growing up as a child in Chicago which has many ethnic neighborhoods, celebrations in the Italian Catholic parishes, would include carnivals and a galore of Italian foods with their sweet tables. And today, it still goes on. There are many traditional ways to celebrate St. Joseph, however; it is all surrounded by the food and here is the reason why.

In 1870, St. Joseph, which I'm sure most of you are aware, is the foster father of Jesus and the husband of Mary, was declared a patron saint of the Roman Catholic Church by Pope Pius IX. However, this time is also celebrated by many branches of Protestantism. St. Joseph is considered the patron saint of the worker and family.

St. Joseph is also the patron saint of Italy. Italian Americans give thanks to St. Joseph for preventing famine in Sicily during the Middle Ages. During that period there was a drought. Italians prayed to St. Joseph for rain. They promised if it rained they would honor him with an abundance of food. The fava bean crop was an important staple for Italians. This was the only crop that was saved from the drought. The bean is said to bring good luck. To this day fava beans along with flowers, fruit, vegetables, bread and other foods are presented on the altars of churches to St. Joseph. One important part of the tradition is to donate food to charity. In Italian American communities on March 19th you may even notice a parade in honor of St. Joseph's day.

Each Italian parish and some Italian homes have St. Joseph tables set up that includes a variety of foods including special St. Joseph bread and a sweet table. The tables are blessed by the priest. It is said that if you keep that bread in your house your family will never starve. Let me tell you, an Italian sweet table is something that will put you in awe with their home made cannolis, zeppole which is an Italian fried puff pastry shell with ricotta filling, Sfrappole which is fried sweet bread sprinkled with sugar, pizzeles, cream puffs and so much more. Italians are all about the food and the love that comes with it.

Now why do Italians wear red on St. Joseph's day? Well, apparently it was just to complement the green on St. Patrick's Day. There is no other real significance to red. So when St. Patty's day comes around and you're smiling green, just two days later, you will see Italians eyes are smiling with red and it won't be just from the vino! Mangia, Mangia!