Editing Saint Joseph's Day (section)

==== Sicily ====
In [[Sicily]] and in many [[Italian American|Italian-American]] communities, giving food to the needy is a Saint Joseph's Day custom. In some communities it is traditional to wear red clothing and eat {{Lang|it|zeppole}}.<ref name="non-stop">{{cite web|url=http://members.aol.com/nonstopny/italiano/stjoseph.htm|title=Non-Stop New York's Italianissimo: La Festa di San Giuseppe NYC-Style|last=|first=|date=|website=|publisher=AOL|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061107115306/http://members.aol.com/nonstopny/italiano/stjoseph.htm|archive-date=7 November 2006|access-date=}}</ref> A traditional Sicilian dish especially associated with Saint Joseph's Day is ''Maccu di San Giuseppe'', which consists of [[maccu]] and various ingredients.<ref name="Clarkson">{{cite book |author=Clarkson, Janet |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KOzYAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA262 |title=Food History Almanac |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield |year=2013 |isbn=978-1442227156 |pages=262}}</ref>

One prominent custom is the Saint Joseph's Day altar, which are elaborately decorated with figurines, medals, and votive candles. The altar is divided into three tiers, representing the three persons of the [[Trinity]], with a statue of Joseph at its head. The tables are dressed with food, which is donated to the poor on the solemnity.<ref name="neworleans">{{cite web |title=St. Joseph's Day Altars |url=https://www.neworleans.com/events/holidays-seasonal/saint-josephs-day/ |website=www.neworleans.com |publisher=City of New Orleans |access-date=8 March 2021}}</ref> On the altar, people place flowers, limes, candles, wine, fava beans, specially prepared cakes, breads, and cookies (as well as other meatless dishes), and {{Lang|it|zeppole}}. Foods are traditionally served containing bread crumbs to represent sawdust since Joseph was a carpenter. Because the feast occurs during Lent, traditionally no meat was allowed on the celebration table.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.houstonculture.org/laproject/stjo.html|title=Louisiana Project – St. Joseph's Day Altars|work=houstonculture.org}}</ref>

According to legend, Saint Joseph interceded to relieve a famine in Sicily during the Middle Ages. There was a severe drought at the time, and the people prayed for their patron saint to bring them rain. They promised that if God answered their prayers through Joseph's intercession, they would prepare a large feast to honor him. The rain did come, and the people of Sicily prepared a large banquet for their patron saint. The [[fava bean]] was the crop which saved the population from starvation and is a traditional part of Saint Joseph's Day altars and traditions.<ref name="Jankowski">{{cite web |last1=Jankowski |first1=Nicole |title=Move Over, St. Patrick: St. Joseph's Feast Is When Italians Parade |url=https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2017/03/18/519987433/move-over-st-patrick-st-josephs-feast-is-when-italians-parade |website=NPR.org |date=18 March 2017 |access-date=8 March 2021 |language=en}}</ref> On the Sicilian island of [[Lipari]], a variant of the legend says that sailors returning from the mainland encountered a fierce storm that threatened to sink their boat. They prayed to Saint Joseph for deliverance, and when they were saved, they swore to honor the saint each year on his feast day.{{citation needed|date=March 2021|reason=citation for legend in Lipara}}

In [[Bagheria]], Saint Joseph is even celebrated twice a year, the second time being held especially for people from Bagheria who come back for summer vacation from other parts of Italy or abroad.{{citation needed|date=April 2024}}