3. St. Joseph is honoured with feasts
and parades especially in the South
of Italy. It’s the “onomastico” (Saint’s
name day) for all those
named
Giuseppe
and
Giuseppina.
4. It’s celebrated mostly by Italian-
American Catholics. The
tradition was brought over with
the first Italian immigrants
and there
are parades
in many big
cities such as
New Orleans.
5. In America the dishes served are
similar to those eaten in Italy and are
meatless because the holiday is
celebrated during Lent. It consists of
bread, pasta, spring vegetables
frittatas’, fava bean soup and desserts.
6. A big Altar called , St.
Joseph’s Table, is
laden with food,
bread and fruit.
7. St. Joseph’s Bread is a bread that is traditionally
served on St. Joseph’s Day. Traditional forms are
crowns and crosses. It’s a good home-style white
bread with sesame seeds. Since St. Joseph
was a carpenter, sesame seeds signify
sawdust. This bread is nice with
butter or jam.
8. St. Joseph’s Day ends with each
participant taking home a bag
containing an orange, a lemon, a
St. Joseph roll.
Oranges represent sweetness of life;
Lemons the good and the bad;
The rolls mean you will
never go hungry.
9. Fava bean is given to each participant to
the feast. They say:
“Keep your lucky bean and let it remind to
pray to St. Joseph.”
In the Middle Ages St. Joseph saved the
Sicilians from a famine.
The only crop that grew and saved them
was the fava bean.
So in his honour the custom is for all to
wear RED.
10. March 19th is above all St.
Joseph’s Zeppole
Celebration!
A zeppola is an Italian pastry.
It may be fried or baked and
filled with cream or custard.
The custom was popularised
in the early 19th century by
Neapolitan baker Pasquale
Pintauro. Zeppole are
special sweets you can find
not only in Italy but also in
Italian American bakeries.
11. Since 1968, 19th March is not only St.
Joseph’s Day but also Father’s Day in
Italy, Spain and Portugal.
On this occasion, children make gifts
for their fathers and
say poems dedicated
to their parent.
12. We chose a poem. We dedicate it not
only to our fathers but also to our
teachers.
13. Cammina con me papà
Cammina accanto a me, papà
E tienimi per mano.
Ho tante cose da imparare
Che ancora non comprendo.
Insegnami le cose che mi salvino
dai pericoli di ogni giorno.
Mostrami come dare il meglio
A casa, a scuola, nel gioco.
Ogni fanciullo ha bisogno di una mano gentile
Che lo guidi nella crescita.
Così, cammina accanto a me, papà
Abbiamo una lunga strada da fare insieme.
