St. Joseph's Day — celebrated each year on March 19 — continues to hold immense significance for Italians. Intertwining religious devotion, cultural heritage and values such as family, the feast day serves as a reminder of St. Joseph’s crucial role as the embodiment of fatherhood.

Even in the context of an ever-growing secularism, St. Joseph’s Day in Italy still has religious significance. Revered as the earthly father of Jesus and Mary’s husband, St. Joseph’s position within Christianity, and specifically Catholicism, remains an important one.

The name Joseph derives from the Jewish Yosseph (meaning he who gathers). The name eventually became in Greek Josephos, then Iosephu in Latin. In Italian, it is Giuseppe. It remains a popular name for babies in Italy.

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While none of the Gospels mention Joseph as present at any event during Jesus’ adult ministry, the synoptic Gospels share a scene in which the people of Nazareth, Jesus' hometown, doubt His status as a prophet because they know his family.

Joseph is mentioned in Luke as the father of Jesus, while Matthew and Luke both contain a genealogy of Jesus.

Devotion to St. Joseph dates back centuries. The earliest records of a formal following for St. Joseph dates back to the year 800 and continued to grow to the 14th century. The saint’s unwavering faith and steadfast commitment to his familial responsibilities make him a beloved figure among Catholics.

How the day is celebrated

For Italians, St. Joseph symbolizes virtues such as integrity, sacrifice and protection. The holiday is given added significance for Italian families since the day also doubles as Father’s Day in Italy.

The day itself is a solemn feast in honor of St. Joseph, marked by Masses and street processions. Furthermore, Italian immigrants around the world gather in churches and hold street festivals dedicated to the saint.

Beyond its religious connotations, St. Joseph's Day is also a celebration of Italian culture and identity in the United States and in several other countries. Italy's strong Catholic traditions, for example, mix with a sense of national pride. For many, St. Joseph has evolved into a symbol of Italians’ collective heritage — much like St. Patrick has for Irish immigrants.

In Sicily, St. Joseph is credited with saving lives during the Middle Ages by helping to avoid a famine. Tradition has it that residents prayed to St. Joseph for rain. The rain came, and their spring crops, fava beans in particular, were spared from destruction. This is believed to be the reason the celebration is held in March and why banquets have become a traditional part of the holiday.

Meanwhile, in cities like Naples, colorful processions enliven city streets, showcasing the vibrancy of local culture and the saint’s enduring legacy.

Regional culinary customs

You can’t have a feast day in Italy without food. Traditions can also vary from region to region.

One of the most cherished customs associated with St. Joseph’s Day is the culinary tradition of preparing and sharing zeppole. These delicious pastries — made of fried dough and filled with custard — are a symbol of the holiday.

In the Apulia region, located near the heel, zeppole are fried in lard and made with water, salt, flour, grated lemons and eggs. In Reggio Calabria, on the country’s southern toe, ricotta cheese and cinnamon are also added.

In Rome, they are called bigne and are commonly served plain with only a dusting of sugar. Further south in Naples, they are filled with custard and a sour cherry (first created in 1840 by a baker named Don Pasquale Pinatauro) and are the type most Italian bakeries around the world now make.

The Sicilian version, however, is a fluffy batter squeezed through a pastry tube into a circle, then fried in oil and filled with sweet ricotta cream cheese. These versions are called Sfinge di San Giuseppe.

Furthermore, elaborate celebrations — known as “Tavole di San Giuseppe” (Tables of St. Joseph) — feature communal feasts where families and friends gather to share traditional dishes. It’s yet another opportunity for families to gather and celebrate the saint’s enduring legacy.

Clemente Lisi is the executive editor of Religion Unplugged. He previously served as deputy head of news at the New York Daily News and a longtime reporter at The New York Post. Follow him on X @ClementeLisi.