ST Joseph Table

For Immediate Release: February 23rd, 2011
Contact: President of Young Italians of WNY
Tom Mazzone, 310-3102

THE YOUNG ITALIANS OF WNY
TO HOLD ITS 2nd ANNUAL ST. JOSEPH’S TABLE
MARCH 10, 2011 FROM 6PM TO 10PM
AT THE KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS LOCATED AT
1530 KENMORE AVENUE, BUFFALO, NY

Buffalo, NY -- The Young Italians of Western New York will be holding its 2nd Annual St. Joseph’s Table on Thursday, March 10, 2011, from 6pm to 10p.m. at the Knights of Columbus located at 1530 Kenmore Avenue in Buffalo, NY

The cost is $15 per person or a table of 10 for $150, Limited seating available. There will also be a 50/50 split drawing to help raise funds for the Miracle for Baseball organization for handicapped children in WNY. For tickets, call Tom Mazzone at 716-310-3102 or Tracey Cavalleri at 716-353-3002. For more information go to, www.youngitaliansofwny.com.

At the event, there will be a traditional St. Joseph’s Table featuring festive food and custom, coffee, pop and homemade Italian desserts included with a cash bar. Upon a typical St. Joseph's Day altar, people place flowers, limes, candles, wine, fava beans, specially prepared cakes, breads, and cookies (as well as other meatless dishes), and zeppole (a Sicilian pastry). Foods are traditionally served containing bread crumbs to represent saw dust since St. Joseph was a carpenter. Because the feast occurs during Lent, traditionally no meat was allowed on the celebration table. The altar usually has three tiers, to represent the trinity.
HISTORY of St. Joseph’s Day
Many Italian St. Joseph’s Day traditions stem from the Middle Ages. In Sicily, where St. Joseph is regarded by many as their Patron Saint, and many Italian-American communities, thanks are given to St. Joseph ("San Giuseppe" in Italian) for preventing a famine in Sicily during the Middle Ages. During the famine in Sicily, when food was scarce and many people were starving, the poor people had only their faith to rely on. St. Joseph was known as the protector of the Holy Family; thus, Italians with strong family relationships prayed for St. Joseph to intercede for them, in an effort to ensure successful crops. Their prayers were answered, and the famine came to an end. In gratitude, people promised to make annual offerings of their most precious possession – food – in St. Joseph's honor.

Little is said in the gospel about Joseph, except that he was a descendant of David and a carpenter by trade. Legends provide additional details about Joseph's life. He supposedly was a widower of advanced age when he was chosen by God to wed Mary. According to one legend, Mary's many suitors left their staffs in the temple one night so that God could indicate who she should marry. The next morning, Joseph's staff blossomed with white flowers and leaves and sent forth a white dove, indicating that he was the chosen one. This explains why statues of St. Joseph typically show him holding the Christ Child and a stalk of white lilies and why this day is a common celebration of fathers throughout the Christian world.

March 19 is said to be St. Joseph's birthday and is celebrated as St. Joseph's Day. The feast of St. Joseph also marks the beginning of spring in many countries.