This exhibition explores the cultural-religious tradition of St. Joseph’s Tables, which are among the richest expressions of Italian American cultural identity and embody a living tradition that has transcended ethnic lines. St. Joseph is among the most venerated saints in Christianity; he is the patron saint of immigrants, workers, unborn children, and fathers, among others.
Devotion to St. Joseph is particularly widespread among Italians and Italian Americans, especially those of Sicilian ancestry. According to legend, the tradition of creating large food altars, or St. Joseph’s Tables, dates to the Middle Ages when there was a severe drought and famine in Sicily.
