[Kitchen Witch]

Saint Joseph

St. Joseph's Day is the day of the carpenter of Nazareth, St. Joseph, who is beloved by generations of Italians and Italian-Americans. Relatively little is known about the life of St. Joseph, except for what is written in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke. The genealogy of both Gospels places him in the line of David. Though St. Joseph was descended from royalty, it was not a title to rank or riches. Everything known about Joseph suggests he was poor.

The tradition of St. Joseph's Day began when there was a severe drought in Sicily in the middle ages. The island of Sicily greatly depends on rain because most of the year is dry, and rain falls for only about three months. Sicily was, and is, very agricultural specializing in lemons, grapes, wheat, olives and an array of fruits. The people of Sicily were losing hope, and in desperation they asked St. Joseph, their patron, to help. They promised him that if rain came, they would prepare a large feast in his honor. The tradition says these prayers were answered with rainy weather. In gratitude, huge banquet tables were set up in public, and the poor people of Sicily were invited to come and eat as much as they wanted.

The families of farmers and fisherman built altars in their homes to share their good fortune with others in need. St. Joseph's Day altars began as a custom and then brought to the states by Sicilian immigrants. The tradition of building the altar to St. Joseph dates back to the drought, and it served as a gift of thanks for St. Joseph. The tradition grew to a more public event on St. Joseph's Feast Day on March 19. Today, special foods, linens, flowers, and statuary adorn the St. Joseph's Altar, which is built with three steps representing the Holy Trinity.


It is the Lenten Season, so no meat is used. In the tradition of other towns that were closer to the sea, fish was readily available and fish dishes were used on their Tables.

One of the prayers said before the meal -

'O, glorious St. Joseph, we stand before this Altar with joyful and grateful hearts. We lovingly present to you the labor of our hands and the dedication of our hearts that have fashioned this Altar in your honor. We again place ourselves under your powerful protection. Help us follow your example of complete trust and faith in Divine Providence. Open our minds and hearts to love and serve the poor, the suffering and those rejected or ignored by society. As a family, teach us to love and honor each member of our families with the love and reverence you had for Jesus and Mary. As a nation, inspire in us the will and the way to live in peace with all nations of the world that in our day we can experience the fulfillment of the prayer of Jesus. Peace be to you.
Remember, O most pure spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary, our sweet protector, St. Joseph, that no one ever had recourse to your protection or implored your aid without obtaining relief.
Lord Jesus, bless this Altar, all this food, the candles, those who prepared it and all those who visit it. We ask this in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.'

And in Sicily -

Benedette la Cena
Benedette Maddalena
Benedette tutte quando.
Patri, Figli, e Spiritu Santu
Quando, Quando, Che Angele Sante.
Patri, Figli, Spiritu Santu
(Bless this meal, Bless Maddalena, Bless everyone, Father, Son and Holy Spirit When, when, what Sainted Angels. Father, Son and Holy Spirit)







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