Buffalo's Italian Cultural Center (CCI) hosted its first ever St. Joseph's Table on Saturday. The Italian tradition commemorates a medieval drought and famine where people facing starvation turned to St. Joseph for help. Now people show their appreciation with an altar music and a feast. "I think it's part of our heritage, celebrating St. Joseph's...

The Feast of St. Joseph, on March 19, is a major celebration for Italian Catholics in Kansas City. Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Columbus Park lays claim to the city's original “St. Joseph Table," with volunteers spending weeks baking 30,000 homemade cookies. Ahead of St. Joseph’s Day, the pews at Holy Rosary Catholic Church are already filled — b...

For over 50 years the proud members of the Italian American St. Joseph Society have been marching through the streets of New Orleans in celebration of St. Joseph’s Day… and this incredible event might just be the BEST Italian American weekend in the nation (think Mardi Gras… but for Italian Americans). So grab your fanciest red clothes, because the...

Soon enough, if not already, fig cookies, lemons and fava beans will adorn pied St. Joseph Altars at local Catholic churches to celebrate the feast day of the saint. The tradition dates back to the Middle Ages, when the people of Sicily commemorated the end of a drought-caused famine. The islanders attributed the abundant rain and crops to prayers...

Buona festa di San Giuseppe, everyone! This week’s episode takes us to New Orleans, where our guest, Sandra Scalise Juneau, introduces us to Louisiana’s very special commemoration of one of Italian America’s most beloved holidays… St. Joseph’s Day! Sandra is the author of “Celebrating with St. Joseph Altars: The History, Recipes, and Symbols of a N...

I’m pretty sure that almost everyone who lives in the New Orleans area has heard of and or visited a St. Joseph altar. But, for those of us who are Catholic and Italian, St. Joseph’s Altars are steeped with family tradition, delicious food, recipes handed down through the generations and an anticipation of visiting various churches to view the beau...

St. Mary Catholic Church in Orange invites parishioners and the general public to join in celebrating the Feast Day of St. Joseph on Sunday. The Feast of Saint Joseph commemorates the end of a drought and looming famine in Sicily during the Middle Ages. Sicilians usually build a “St. Joseph Table” and wear red as a symbol of the celebration. This t...

The feast of St. Joseph’s Day is coming up on March 19th and there’s no better place to celebrate than here in the Bronx in Little Italy! If you’re unfamiliar with St. Joseph’s Day, it’s the day that Italian Catholics honor Joseph, husband to the Virgin Mary. It also happens to be when Italy celebrates Father’s Day. In addition, if your name is Jos...

Members of the Downriver Italian American Club are anxiously awaiting the return of their annual St. Joseph’s Festival and they’re inviting the public to join them. The event kicks off at 2 p.m. March 12 at the Wyandotte Copeland Center, 2306 Fourth St. The admission fee is $15 and can be paid at the door. All donated funds will be matched by the D...

One of the most important holidays for many Italian American and Italian Catholics is the Feast of St. Joseph or La Festa di San Giuseppe. St. Joseph, a carpenter, and the foster father of Jesus, is the patron saint of carpenters, orphans and the needy and the homeless, among others. The day has always been celebrated on March 19, but in 2008 it wa...