By the time March arrives, Italians begin thinking about several important traditions. We are in the season of Lent, and many Catholics already have Easter on their minds. But before Easter comes a beloved celebration: the Feast of St. Joseph, known in Italian as La Festa di San Giuseppe.

Celebrated each year on March 19th, the feast honors St. Joseph, the husband of the Virgin Mary and the earthly father of Jesus. In Italy, the day carries even more significance because it is also celebrated as Father’s Day.

The day has another special meaning as well. Anyone named Joseph or Josephine celebrates their onomastico, or “name day.” In Italian tradition, many names correspond to the feast day of a particular saint—such as St. Joseph, St. Francis, St. Anthony, St. Anne, or St. Catherine. While a name day is usually celebrated more modestly than a birthday, it is still a joyful occasion. Family and friends often gather to share good wishes, and no Italian celebration is complete without cake or pastries.

St. Joseph and Sicily

Although the Feast of St. Joseph is celebrated throughout Italy, it is in Southern Italy, and especially Sicily, where the holiday truly comes to life.

According to tradition, St. Joseph once saved the Sicilian people during a devastating drought. Facing the threat of famine, the people prayed to him for rain. Their prayers were answered—the rains came, their crops were saved, and disaster was avoided.

In gratitude, Sicilians vowed to honor St. Joseph with an annual celebration. To this day, the island commemorates the miracle with large feasts, religious processions, and lively festivals, many of which take place during the month of March.

The St. Joseph’s Table

One of the most cherished traditions associated with the feast is the St. Joseph’s Table, sometimes called the St. Joseph’s Altar.

These elaborate tables are often set up in homes, churches, social clubs, and even cafés. Italian immigrants carried this tradition with them to the United States, where many communities still maintain it today.

The table is arranged as an offering of gratitude to the saint and is filled with symbolic foods and gifts. A statue of St. Joseph is typically placed at the center or head of the table, surrounded by beautifully arranged breads, citrus fruits, pastries, and other traditional dishes.

On March 19th, families and neighbors gather for an open house, sharing the food and celebrating together. Among the most meaningful items on the table are fava beans, which were one of the crops saved during the historic drought. Because of this, they have come to symbolize good luck, abundance, and protection.

For many Italian families, including those far from Italy, preparing a St. Joseph’s Table remains a heartfelt way to honor tradition and celebrate the spirit of faith, gratitude, and community.

Foods ideal for the Feast Day of St. Joseph

As with nearly everything in Italy, the Feast of St. Joseph is deeply rooted in culinary tradition. The foods prepared for the celebration often carry symbolic meaning and reflect the humble origins of the saint himself.

Many dishes served on this day include breadcrumbs, sometimes called “the poor man’s Parmigiano.” The reason for this tradition comes from St. Joseph’s profession—he was a carpenter. Breadcrumbs are said to resemble the sawdust left behind after a day’s work in the carpenter’s shop, making them a meaningful and symbolic ingredient in St. Joseph’s Day recipes. (They’re often sprinkled over pasta dishes prepared for the feast.)

Lemons are another common ingredient on the St. Joseph’s table. Like fava beans, they are believed to bring good luck and prosperity. According to tradition, lemons may even bring a little extra luck to single women hoping to find a husband.

Zeppole di San Giuseppe

My all-time favorite treat of the holiday, however, is the beloved Zeppole di San Giuseppe.

Found in Italian bakeries throughout Italy and the United States, a zeppola is a delicate pastry that resembles a cream puff or small choux pastry. It can be fried or baked, then sliced open and filled with sweet, velvety fillings such as pastry cream or sweetened ricotta.

The finishing touch is usually a dark amarena cherry placed on top, followed by a generous dusting of confectioners’ sugar.

Whether enjoyed on its own or paired with a cup of strong Italian espresso, it’s a treat that perfectly captures the spirit of the celebration. If you do nothing else this holiday, be sure to enjoy a zeppola in honor of San Giuseppe.

The Feast of St. Joseph in the United States

While the Feast of St. Joseph is widely celebrated in Italy, it is less familiar to many non-Italian Americans. One U.S. city, however, continues to honor the tradition in a big way: New Orleans.

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Louisiana became a major port of entry for Sicilian immigrants, many of whom came from Palermo. Large numbers settled in the French Quarter, an area that became so heavily Sicilian that it earned the nickname “Little Palermo.”

Today, the tradition lives on. Each year in New Orleans, communities celebrate the feast with St. Joseph’s altars, traditional foods, religious ceremonies, and lively gatherings, keeping their Sicilian heritage alive.

St. Joseph and the Tradition of Selling Homes

Here’s a fun fact about St. Joseph: he is often considered the patron saint of realtors and anyone trying to sell a home.

Like many traditions, the origin of this custom isn’t entirely clear. However, it has become a widely known bit of folklore. According to the tradition, if you are trying to sell your home, you should buy a small statue of St. Joseph and bury it upside down in your yard, preferably near flowers or along the front of the property.

The idea is that placing the statue in such an uncomfortable position will encourage the saint to help speed up the sale of your home. After all, what could be more uncomfortable than being buried upside down?

Once the home is sold, the tradition says you should dig up the statue and place it in a position of honor in your new home as a gesture of gratitude for St. Joseph’s help.

Italian religious holidays are filled with traditions, customs, and a few playful superstitions, all of which add to the richness of the celebration.

And if you choose to celebrate in the simplest way possible, just stop by your favorite Italian bakery this weekend and pick up a zeppola—a deliciously sweet way to honor San Giuseppe.