Feast of Saint Joseph

Recipes for St Joseph's Day:
Zeppole
St Joseph's Bread
St Joseph's Fritters

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(see also The Feast of St Joseph the Worker).

The Feast of Saint Joseph, also known as the Solemnity of St. Joseph and St. Joseph's Day, is celebrated in some (but by no means all) Christian Churches on 19th March each year in honour of Saint Joseph, husband of Mary and "step-father" of Jesus Christ.

The Solemnity is a uniquely Roman Catholic tradition, whilst the Feast a lies within the Anglican Communion. In the Orthodox Christian church, the Feast of Saint Joseph is celebrated on the Sunday following Christmas, rather than on 19th March.

As 19th March always falls within Lent, there are often variations to how this day is celebrated and the associated customs and practices followed within the differing churches. The celebration is sometimes moved to accommodate days associated with Easter, particularly in the Roman Catholic Church.

In several countries, St. Joseph's Day has special significance. In Italy (especially Sicily) and Italian-American communities in the USA giving food to the needy is a custom and in some circles within these communities it is traditional to wear red clothing and to eat Zeppole. In Sicily, it is traditional to give gifts of fava (broad) beans and bread. Fava beans are credited with saving the Sicilians from starvation and so they are said to bring good luck. It is also believed that if a supply of St. Joseph's bread is kept, the family will never starve.

In the Philippines, many families maintain a tradition of taking an older male, a younger female and a small boy from amongst the poor and treating them (literally by spoon-feeding them) to a banquet, served on the very best tableware.

In New Orleans, Louisiana, USA they not only follow the traditions outlined above, but also some groups of Mardi Gras Indians stage their last procession prior to dismantling their costumes and floats. At the Mission of San Juan Capistrano in California they have an additional celebration to welcome back the migratory swallows.

In Spain, Portugal, Italy and Belgium St. Josephs's Day is also celebrated as Father's Day.