St. Joseph's Day...and Night

Today is St. Joseph's Day. It is a Sicilian holiday honoring St. Joseph who is believed to have provided relief to Sicily during severe famine and has been celebrated ever since. It is a holiday that is not very well known outside of the Sicilian American community, but because New Orleans has one of the largest Italian Sicilian populations in the US, it has continued to be celebrated to this day. One of the main features of the celebration is to build altars- in homes, churches, in public spaces- filled with foodstuffs, baked goods and featuring fava beans, the last of which is considered to be the "lucky" bean. In New Orleans there is typically a St. Joseph's Day parade on the weekend before the holiday (which is always on March 19th I believe) and of course the altars. Over the years there are not as many altars being built- especially in private homes- but they are still done by many communities and churches to celebrate the holiday. (See picture above of a St. Joseph's Altar I photographed a couple years ago in New Orleans; it was on Decatur Street-right across from the Central Grocery which is world famous for it's muffaletta sandwiches.) I was able to find "St. Joe Cakes" at the local Italian Deli right here in Willow Grove, PA- these are "zeppole" filled with either a sweet ricotta cheese filling or a cannolli type filling; sweet and delicious (see photos below). In an interesting cultural melange sort of way, St. Joseph's night has in New Orleans also become associated with- believe it or not- the Mardi Gras Indians. It is the only time all year that the Indians parade at night. Apparently, one explanation that I have come across (see video HERE) is that the early Sicilian immigrants to the city of New Orleans settled in neighborhoods along with the African Americans already living there and as the two groups became familiar with each others' cultures and celebrations there was a cross-pollination of these that occurred. Very unique indeed. I have not been out with the Mardi Gras Indians on St. Joseph's Night but someday would hope to be in the city for this holiday and it's related celebrations.