THE LEGEND OF ST. JOSEPH TABLE CELEBRATIONS
On March 19th, Italians in Italy & Italian-Americans in the United States will be observing the tradition of celebrating the feast day of St. Joseph with what is known as a "St. Joseph's Table".
The tradition originated in Sicily in the Middle Ages, when it was believed that prayers to St. Joseph, their patron saint, brought relief and rain during a time of drought and famine. The first celebration began with what is most endearing about Italy and Italians, a food feast. The wealthy landowners set up banquet tables in the public square and invited the poor to the feast.
Today, the traditional St. Joseph's Table is a three-tiered display with the saint placed at the top tier. Many celebrations among Italian-American communities are filled with incredible displays of food! On this page you will find photos of various St. Joseph's Table in the Kansas City, MO area.
Though Sicilian immigrants introduced the custom to America, the celebration is not confined to any nationality. Rather, it has become a public event which its devoted participants embrace for a host of private and personal reasons. The feast is alternately a source of petition and thanksgiving. St. Joseph's Feast Day is a tradition that centers on the entire family. After many centuries, the St. Joseph Altar still serves as a reminder that those who have enjoyed some measure of good fortune must share it with those who have less.
In America, the custom of the Saint Joseph's Table has become like a giant pot luck dinner. Because Saint Joseph's Feast falls during the Lenten season, in pre-Vatican II times the foods at the celebration consisted of traditional meatless dishes such as fruit and vegetables, pasta, fish and varieties of bread and pastries. All dishes are welcome at our feast table.
On March 19th, Italians in Italy & Italian-Americans in the United States will be observing the tradition of celebrating the feast day of St. Joseph with what is known as a "St. Joseph's Table".
The tradition originated in Sicily in the Middle Ages, when it was believed that prayers to St. Joseph, their patron saint, brought relief and rain during a time of drought and famine. The first celebration began with what is most endearing about Italy and Italians, a food feast. The wealthy landowners set up banquet tables in the public square and invited the poor to the feast.
Today, the traditional St. Joseph's Table is a three-tiered display with the saint placed at the top tier. Many celebrations among Italian-American communities are filled with incredible displays of food! On this page you will find photos of various St. Joseph's Table in the Kansas City, MO area.
Though Sicilian immigrants introduced the custom to America, the celebration is not confined to any nationality. Rather, it has become a public event which its devoted participants embrace for a host of private and personal reasons. The feast is alternately a source of petition and thanksgiving. St. Joseph's Feast Day is a tradition that centers on the entire family. After many centuries, the St. Joseph Altar still serves as a reminder that those who have enjoyed some measure of good fortune must share it with those who have less.
In America, the custom of the Saint Joseph's Table has become like a giant pot luck dinner. Because Saint Joseph's Feast falls during the Lenten season, in pre-Vatican II times the foods at the celebration consisted of traditional meatless dishes such as fruit and vegetables, pasta, fish and varieties of bread and pastries. All dishes are welcome at our feast table.