My mother being Irish, St. Patrick’s day always was a big deal at our house. Mom made sure we all were wearing something green when we toddled off to school on St. Patrick’s Day.
Every year, she would attend a St. Pat’s parade somewhere. And everyone in the family received a St. Patrick’s Day card each and every year.
My father was not Irish, but Italian. He didn’t work at it, though. He just worked at work. So, I didn’t even know about, much less observe, St. Joseph’s day until I was an adult.
St. Joseph’s Day is March 19, while St. Pat’s is March 17. Everyone celebrates St. Patrick’s Day. St. Joseph, not so much. A big reason for this disparity, I think, is that on St. Patrick’s Day, you do things for yourself. On St. Joseph’s Day, you do things for other people.
St. Patrick’s day provides us with a reason (excuse) to drink to excess.
St. Joseph’s Day provides us the opportunity to help the less fortunate.
The day goes back to a drought plaguing medieval Sicily. The people prayed for relief to St. Joseph. The drought broke. To thank the saint, the people prepared a banquet to which they invited the poor and ill.
More Top Picks Low Sodium Snacks
Italians, and Italian-Americans, continue the tradition today. Volunteers at churches and other Italian-American organizations prepare meals on or close to the day and collect donations, which go to a worthy cause.
Since St. Joseph’s Day is about giving, there is not the extreme behavior that often comes with St. Patrick’s Day.
You won’t see any fights at a St. Joseph’s Day table, unless it is over the last meatball.
I’m not suggesting you give up St. Patrick’s Day festivities. But you might want to take in a St. Joseph’s Day table, as well. The food always is homemade and therefore delicious. And your donation will help others. I can’t list – and don’t know – where all the St. Joseph’s Day tables are. But here are a few I do know:
March 11: Missionary Sisters of St. Charles Borromeo, 1414 N. 37th Ave., Melrose Park. First seating is noon to 3 p.m., second seating 4 to 8 p.m. Call 798-343-2162.
March 13: St. Isaac Jogues Church, 8149 W. Golf Rd., Niles. Call 847-966-1180.
March 13: St. Celestine Church, 3020 N. 76th Court, Elmwood Park. 708-452-4654.
March 13: Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church, 1101 N. 23rd Ave., Melrose Park. Seating at 1:30 p.m. 847-537-3365.
Paul Sassone is a freelance columnist for Pioneer Press.