Guest Author - Lisa Shea

Saint Joseph was the husband of Mary and the adoptive father of young Jesus. A humble carpenter, he did all he could to raise his son with love and caring.

Every March 19th, Italians everywhere celebrate the role Joseph had in raising Jesus and caring for his family. The festival's roots trace back to the middle ages in Sicily. The farmers were suffering through a drought and begged for Joseph to give them relief. They promised a large feast in his honor if he would rescue them. When the rains came, the Sicilians honored their promise and had a fantastic feast in thanks.

The main components of a St Joseph's Day feast include:

* Bread in the shape of a staff
* minestrone soup
* beans and lentils
* dry bread crumbs
* ravioli style pastry for dessert

St. Joseph's Day Recipes