The Feast of Saint Joseph celebrates the husband of the Virgin Mary.
In much of the Latin world, his feast is both Father’s Day and Stepfather’s Day. Both fathers and stepfathers are important. In the Latin world, extended families are the norm. There are many good stepfathers raising children and families.
Saint Joseph
Saint Joseph was a carpenter by trade and is also the patron saint of workers. Therefore, Saint Joseph is also associated with International Worker’s Day on May 1. San Giuseppe is also the patron saint of Sicily, Italy. Sicilian craftsmen built many beautiful churches in New York City.
Joseph is also the patron saint of the New World, and a happy death. We’ll take that last one.
Feast of Saint Joseph
Saint Joseph’s Feast is March 19. It is a solemnity in the Catholic Church, the second rank of feasts.
There are many rules about the celebration, and they have changed over time. Popular traditions include going to church, wearing red clothing, carrying blessed fava beans, and building home altars to the saint. These altars are very similar to Day of the Dead altars in Mexico. Neapolitan communities eat zeppola pastries on the Feast of Saint Joseph.
El Dia del Padre
El Dia del Padre or Dia do Pai is the Hispanic/Luso Father’s Day.
San Jose (Saint Joseph) raised a child who was not his own, so we honor him as a good example of what a father should be. Nowadays, many of us have stepfathers or are stepfathers. God bless you!
It’s traditional for children to cook breakfast for their fathers on this day.
The Falla Festival is the Original Burning Man
The Falla Festival (Torch Festival) in Valencia, Spain honors Saint Joseph.
Every neighborhood in Valencia spends the entire year building a Falla sculpture. The sculptures are humorous takes on whatever interests the neighborhood that year. Valencia has about 750 of these neighborhood falla groups.
After four days of partying in traditional dress, and eating lots of paella, the Falles are burnt in huge bonfires on March 19.
Saint Joseph in New York City
Two Manhattan churches are dedicated to Saint Joseph.
St. Joseph’s Church in Greenwich Village
371 Sixth Ave
(between Washington Place and Waverly Place)
Church of St. Joseph of the Holy Family
405 West 125th St
(at Morningside Ave)
Manhattanville (West Harlem)