What Is St. Joseph’s Day? Things To Know About Feast Day

March 19 is observed as St. Joseph's Day, which is marked to celebrate Italy’s patron saint, the husband of the Virgin Mary and stepfather to Jesus Christ. On this day, Italian-Americans wear red and enjoy the feast day by giving food to the hungry.

Also widely known as San Giuseppe, this year, the feast day falls on Tuesday. St. Joseph is the patron saint of Sicily to whom the local people had prayed to during a terrible famine. When the famine ended, the people celebrated with a special feast dedicated to the saint, according to Catholic Culture.

St. Joseph's Day is extremely popular in New Orleans, where there are many descendants of Sicilian immigrants who came to Louisiana in the 19th century. This day is best associated with the pastries served, and the popular ones are zeppole (doughnuts) and sfinge (cream puffs). Lemons, for instance, are considered lucky while meat is typically absent. Fava beans are considered to be lucky since they survived a drought in Italy during the Middle Ages.

The day comes just two days after the Irish holiday of St. Patrick's Day, which is marked with the color green.

Here are some quotes about St. Joseph's Day.

1. “He was chosen by the eternal Father as the trustworthy guardian and protector of his greatest treasures, namely, his divine Son and Mary, Joseph’s wife. He carried out this vocation with complete fidelity until at last God called him, saying: ‘Good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of your Lord.’” — St. Bernardine of Siena

2. “St. Joseph was chosen among all men, to be the protector and guardian of the Virgin Mother of God; the defender and foster-father of the Infant-God, and the only co-operator upon earth, the one confidant of the secret of God in the work of the redemption of mankind.” — St. Bernard of Clairvaux

3. "We should, indeed, honor St. Joseph, since the Son of God Himself was graciously pleased to honor him by calling him father. The Holy Scriptures speak of him as the father of Jesus. ‘His father and mother were marveling at the things spoken -- concerning Him’ (Luke 2:33). Mary also used this name: ‘in sorrow thy father and I have been seeking thee’ (Luke 2:48). If, then, the King of Kings was pleased to raise Joseph to so high a dignity, it is right and obligatory on our part to endeavor to honor him as much as we can.” — St. Alphonsus Liguori

4. “Some saints are privileged to extend to us their patronage with particular efficacy in certain needs, but not in others; but our holy patron St. Joseph has the power to assist us in all cases, in every necessity, in every undertaking.” — St. Thomas Aquinas