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The St. Joseph Table

What is the st. joseph's table
- Honoring the foster father of Jesus
  
  The Feast of St. Joseph, which always falls during Lent on March 19, is especially commemorated and celebrated in Italy in general, and Sicily in particular, where St. Joseph has been long-regarded as the island’s Patron saint. It is there, among Sicilians, that the tradition of the “Tavola di San Giuseppe” or “St. Joseph’s Table” has its origins.
  
  In Italy, March 19 is also Father’s Day. As St. Joseph was the foster father of Jesus, this celebration is a symbolic “thank you” and a renewal of the Sicilian people’s devotion to Saint Joseph.
  
  It is a shared celebration with the entire community where the riches of food are given as alms to the poor: traditional etiquette is that no one can be turned away from this table.
- Origins
  
  Legends from the Middle Ages attributed the end of a devastating drought to prayers and devotions that the Sicilian people made to St. Joseph.
  During a time of drought and famine, no rain fell on Medieval Sicily. Food crops for both people and livestock withered and died. The people prayed to St. Joseph for help.
  
  When the clouds opened, the desperately needed rain poured down, and there was much rejoicing! After the harvest, to show their gratitude, they prepared a table with special foods to honor St. Joseph and to share with the poor. After thanking and honoring the saint, they distributed the food to the less fortunate.
- This celebration became an annual tradition. Each year, wealthy families prepared huge buffets. The less fortunate people of the community, especially the homeless and sick, were invited, and all the remaining food and proceeds were given to the poor.
  
  Through the years, the tradition has remained throughout Italy, and is also prevalent in Poland, Malta, Spain, the Phillipines, and, with the influx of Sicilian immigrants to the US, here in our own country.
three-fold tradition: veneration, the table, and the poor
- Veneration
  
  The festive nature of the table celebration is all about St. Joseph, but the primary focus is during Mass. When the “table” is part of a parish activity, the “celebration” follows Mass. Often at Mass, parishioners dressed as the Holy Family bring up the gifts in order to emphasize the stewardship of St. Joseph’s gifts to the Church. Food items for the table, such as hand-fashioned breads, are presented alongside the bread and wine.
  
  Sometimes, the statue of St. Joseph is carried after Mass, procession-style, into the parish hall to be placed in a prominent spot on the table surrounded by lilies and other items.
- The Table:
  Preparation and Symbolism
  
  A St. Joseph’s Day “table” or “altar” is a makeshift shrine/dinner festival that can be held in one’s home, or in a church hall or club hall. The host family or parish group creates what amounts to a living work of art.
  
  A parish St. Joseph’s Table is typically a three-tiered display covered with white linen tablecloths. The three tiers represent the Holy Trinity, and the ascent from earth to heaven. A statue of St. Joseph is placed on the top tier.
  
  The other tiers might hold flowers (especially lilies), candles, statues and holy cards. An array of symbolic breads and pastries are also displayed. There may also be wine, symbolizing the wedding feast at Cana; pineapple symbolizing hospitality; lemons and limes and other fruit. There is typically a basket in which the faithful place prayer petitions.
  
  An at-home version of this can be simpler, but should follow the same themes, and is often the setting for a gathering of several families to celebrate together. For example, vigil lights of green, brown and deep yellow, representing St. Joseph’s attire, can be placed all around, and the table can be surrounded by palms reminiscent of the Holy Land.
  
  In many parish celebrations, a special smaller table is set for the “Holy Family” right in front of the display. This is where those who portrayed Jesus, Mary and Joseph at Mass will eat—a place of high honor.
- The Foods
  
  No meat is served at a St. Joseph Table because it takes place in Lent. Sesame-coated breads in symbolic shapes are also often served. If the celebration happens after an evening Mass, the food that is served may simply be desserts and coffee.
  
  Breads, baked into symbolic shapes, are the centerpiece of the food table and the altar.
- The breads
  
  The breads themselves are made from the same dough that forms traditional Italian bread and are often made into interesting and symbolic shapes for St. Joseph’s Day, including:
  
  The Latin Cross: The ultimate symbol of our Lord’s suffering and salvation.
  
  The Bambino: The baby Jesus to whom St. Joseph was foster father.
  
  St. Joseph’s Staff: Legend has it that St. Joseph’s staff blossomed into a lily, a symbol both of life and death.
  
  St. Joseph’s Purse: This symbol is a reminder to give alms to the poor during Lent.
  
  A Sheaf of Wheat: Wheat is a reminder that, when a single, tiny grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it bears much more food at harvest time—and that the early spring harvest of greens is almost here.
  
  St. Joseph himself: He is always represented in profile and hunched over with a cane, symbolizing that he was (according to tradition) an old man, while Mary was a much younger woman.
  
  St. Joseph’s Beard: This is actually just the Sheaf of Wheat turned upside down, but young children delight when their fathers and grandfathers hold their beard up to their face. It is another reminder of Joseph’s wisdom and old age.
  
  Heart: A symbol of devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary that flourished throughout Italy in general and Sicily in particular in the 19th century.
  
  The Crown of Thorns: This is in remembrance of Christ’s passion and a reminder that, despite the day’s feasting among Lent’s fasting, Lent is still a season of sorrow—but of hope, too!
- Other foods offered
  
  Minestras, or very thick soups, made of lentils, favas and other types of beans, together with escarole, broccoli or cauliflower.
  
  Vegetables, such as celery, fennel stalks, boiled and stuffed artichokes
  
  St. Joseph’s Day Pasta, also called Sawdust Pasta or Carpenter’s Pasta, made with bread crumbs sautéed in butter to resemble wood sawdust.
  
  Sweet Pasta, a pasta dish made with honey
  
  Olives, figs, and other side dishes
- Desserts
  
  As no feast is complete without dessert, no Saint Joseph’s altar would be finished without the some sweet treats. There is typically a plethora of cakes, biscotti and cookies, many of which are embellished with almonds.
  
  Two particularly traditional desserts found at St. Joseph’s tables are sfingi (fried pieces of bread dough rolled in sugar) and zeppoli (a pastry shaped like a donut, fried or baked, and filled with a sweet pastry crème, then garnished with a dusting of powdered sugar and a maraschino cherry).
- The Poor
  
  The table’s breads, cookies and pastries are sold to raise funds for the parish or for charity. Donations of other food items, as well as cash donations, are encouraged. Even if celebrated privately, at home, a plan should be in place to make sure that the entire celebration and charitable nature of the event serve those most in need.
- Other St. Joseph's Table Traditions
  
  No cheese is eaten on St. Joseph’s day, a remembrance that during the famine that spawned this devotion, cheese was not available. Pasta is not sprinkled with grated cheese, but in its place a traditional mixture of toasted dry breadcrumbs with fresh sardines and fennel sauce is used.
  
  Blessed fava beans are often given out at St. Joseph’s Tables. Once considered cattle feed, fava beans were the one food which survived the Sicilian drought, sustained the people, and saved them from starvation.
  
  The use of breadcrumbs in food preparation is said to represent saw dust in commemoration of St. Joseph’s work as a carpenter.