Vive San Guiseppe!

[poltr1]

As mentioned in a response-comment in my post about St. Patrick's Day, I ought to mention St. Joseph's Day, even though the feaast day has passed.

This holiday is usually celebrated by people of southern Italian descent. St. Joseph is the patron saint of -- aspirin? Bite your tongue! -- the family, the home, and of carpentry. One ritual performed by Catholics who want to sell their house is to bury a St. Joseph statue in the yard, upside down.

The highlight of St. Joseph's day isn't a drunken orgy, but a more respectful and peaceful meal. While we didn't celebrate it a home, my dad's Knights of Columbus lodge celebrated it, due to the large number of Italian-American members.

It was a huge pot-luck dinner. Families of lodge members would bring a meatless dish to share. The lodge would provide a spaghetti dinner, with a meatless sauce. (When the Gioia Macaroni Co. was still in business, they'd donate the pasta.) There was also pasta con sarde, which was available upon request. Pasta con sarde is a spaghetti sauce with sardines, anise sprigs, and capers (I think). It's similar to a puttanesca sauce, except for the types of fish used in the sauces -- I think puttanesca uses anchovies. Both are available ready-made at Italian markets or international markets.

There was a lot of food sharing, camaraderie, and the occasional toast -- "Vive San Guiseppe!" (Long Live St. Joseph!) -- to the patron saint of the day.

While I've left the church behind, this is one of the traditions I miss.

Information about the Feast of St. Joseph (March 19).

Comments

[jhayman.livejournal.com]

Have a happy day

[allisona.livejournal.com]

St. Joseph is also the patron saint of the school I teach at and the patron saint of Canada. Our school celebrates his feast day every year, usually with a Mass or a prayer celebration. I think this is the first year we haven't had a St. Joseph Day Mass and that's because March Break/Holy Week/Easter have all fallen at the same time as St. Joseph's feast day this year.