Solemnity of Saint Joseph

The Solemnity of Saint Joseph commonly called the Feast of St. Joseph or in some churches Saint Joseph's Day is marked in some Christian churches in honor of Saint Joseph, spouse of Mary and foster-father of Jesus.

It is a Solemnity in the Catholic Church and a feast in the provinces of the Anglican Communion, falling on 19 March. In the Orthodox Church, the Feast falls on the Sunday after Christmas.

Saint Bernardino of Siena was the main proponent of Joseph's veneration in the western Church, where his feast day was first celebrated in 1621.

In 1870, Pope Pius IX declared Joseph the patron of the Universal Church, and promoted the "Patronage" (later Solemnity) feast of Saint Joseph on the third Wednesday after Easter.

As Joseph was a carpenter (or a builder), he is also the patron saint of workers. In 1955, Pope Pius XII introduced the optional feast of Saint Joseph the Worker on May 1st, intentionally coinciding with the international labour day or May Day.

The Feast of St. Joseph's is the Patronal Feast day for persons named Joseph, Josephine, etc., and is the of religious orders, schools and parishes bearing his name.

Catholic traditions of St. Joseph's Day, 19 March

Saint Joseph's Day always falls during Lent, and St. Joseph's Day feasts often have no meat, even though—because the feast day is classed as a solemnity—abstinence from meat is not required according to Canon law, even if it falls on a Friday. If the feast day falls on a Sunday, it is observed the following day, Monday, 20 March, instead. If it falls during Holy Week or Easter week, it is moved to the Monday after Octave of Easter, eight days after Easter. (Prior to 1970, the Tuesday after the Octave of Easter was used as the alternate date).

Italy - La Festa di San Giuseppe

In Sicily and many Italian-American communities, thanks are given to St. Joseph ("San Giuseppe" in Italian) for preventing a famine in Sicily during the Middle Ages. The fava bean was the crop which saved the population from starvation, and is a traditional part of St. Joseph's Day altars and traditions. Giving food to the needy is a St. Joseph's Day custom.

In some Italian and Italian-American communities it is traditional to wear red clothing and eat a Sicilian pastry known as a Zeppole on St. Joseph's Day.

United States

In New Orleans, Louisiana, in addition to the above traditions, some groups of Mardi Gras Indians stage their last procession of the season, after which their costumes are dismantled.

At Mission San Juan Capistrano in San Juan Capistrano, California, a festival celebrates the return of migratory swallows.

There is a tradition in New York to pinch the left ear of persons named Joseph to give him good luck.

Spain

In Spain, the day is a version of Father's Day. In some parts of Spain it is celebrated as Falles (see also).

Philippines

In The Philippines, many families keep a tradition in which an old man, a young woman and a small boy are chosen from among the poor and dressed up as St. Joseph, the Virgin Mary, and the child Jesus respectively. They then sit around a table set with the family's best silverware and china, and served a variety of courses and are literally spoon-fed by senior members of the family, while the novena to St. Joseph is recited at a nearby temporary altar.

External links

Christian festivals | Italian-American culture | Catholic holy days