Saint Joseph's Day definition of Saint Joseph's Day in the Free Online Encyclopedia.

St. Joseph's Day

March 12-19

The feast of the foster-father of Jesus, known as Dia de San Giuseppe, is widely observed in Italy as a day of feasting and sharing with the poor, of whom he is the patron saint. Villages prepare a "table of St. Joseph" by contributing money, candles, flowers, or food. Then they invite three guests of honor—representing Jesus, Mary, and Joseph—to join in their feast, as well as others representing the 12 Apostles. They also invite the orphans, widows, beggars, and poor people of the village to eat with them. The food is blessed by the village priest and by the child chosen to represent Jesus; then it is passed from one person to the next. The Feast of St. Joseph is celebrated by Italians in the United States and in other countries as well.
In Valencia, Spain, it is a week-long festival called Fallas de San Jose (Bonfires of St. Joseph) . It has its roots in medieval times when, on St. Joseph's Eve, the carpenters' guild made a huge bonfire out of the wood shavings that had accumulated over the winter to honor the carpenter patron saint, St. Joseph. This act marked the end of winter and was the last night on which candles and amps would have to be lighted. In fact, the carpenters often burned the parot, or wooden candelabrum, in front of their shops.
Nowadays the parots have become fallas, or huge floats of intricate scenes made of wood and papier-mâchÉ, satirizing everything from the high cost of living to political personalities. On St. Joseph's Eve, March 18, the fallas parade through the streets. At midnight on March 19, the celebration ends with the spectacular ceremony known as the crema, when all the fallas are set on fire. One Ninot, or "doll," from each falla is chosen, and before the fire the best one is selected and preserved in a special museum. Another highlight is the crida, which consists of a series of public announcements made from the Torres de Serrano by the Queen of the Fallas and the city mayor. The festival is said to reflect the happy and satirical nature of the Valencians.
See also San JosÉ Day Festival and Swallows of San Juan Capistrano

CONTACTS:
Italian Government Tourist Board
630 Fifth Ave., Ste. 1565
New York, NY 10111
212-245-5618; fax: 212-586-9249
www.italiantourism.com
Valencia Tourist Bureau
Aptdo. de Correos 48
Burjassot
Valencia, 46100 Spain
34-963-649-506; fax: 34-963-649-507
www.comunitatvalenciana.com
Fallera Central Board
Av. Plata 117
Valencia, 46006 Spain
34-963-525-478; fax: 34-963-521-730
www.fallasfromvalencia.com

SOURCES:
BkFest-1937, pp. 181, 299
BkHolWrld-1986, Mar 19
DaysCustFaith-1957 p. 82
FestWestEur-1958, p. 90
FolkAmerHol-1999, p. 142
FolkWrldHol-1999, p. 209
GdUSFest-1984, p. 72
NatlHolWrld-1968, p. 36
OxYear-1999, p. 126

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No references found			It is always held from March 15th to the 19th, Saint Joseph's Day, when the great bonfire or Fallas are burnt. The Valencia Spain Fallas Nowadays by Erica Bosworth / Travel, recreation and leisure community This year's Multicultural Caucus programming included "Photostorytellers: The Saint Joseph's Day Parade in New Orleans. Dumb luck at SPE by McGann, Nadine L. / Afterimage			Saint Hyacinthe Saint James Saint James Bay State Marine Park Saint James Parish Saint James's Palace Saint Jean Saint Jean, Lac Saint Jérôme Saint Joe State Park Saint John Saint John of Jerusalem, Knights of Saint John River Saint John the Baptist Parish Saint John the Divine, Cathedral of Saint John's Saint John's College Saint John's University Saint John's wort Saint John, Lake Saint Johns Saint Johns County Saint Johns River Saint Joseph Saint Joseph County Saint Joseph retort process Saint Joseph's Day Saint Kilda Saint Kitts Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Kitts-Nevis Saint Lambert Saint Landry Parish Saint Laurent Saint Laurent, Louis Saint Laurent, Yves Saint Lawrence Saint Lawrence County Saint Lawrence Island Saint Lawrence Islands National Park Saint Lawrence River Saint Lawrence Seaway Saint Lawrence State Park Golf Course Saint Lawrence, Gulf Saint Lawrence, Gulf of Saint Leger Saint Leonard Saint Louis Saint Louis County Saint Louis encephalitis Saint Louis Park Saint Louis University			Saint Johns Wart Saint Johns Wart Saint Johns Wort Saint Johns Wort Saint Josaphat Saint Joseph Saint Joseph Saint Joseph - Mount Sterling Hospital Saint Joseph Academy Saint Joseph Center for Mental Health Saint Joseph College, Connecticut Saint Joseph County Saint Joseph County, IN Saint Joseph County, Indiana Saint Joseph County, MI Saint Joseph County, Michigan Saint Joseph Elementary School Saint Joseph High School Saint Joseph Mercy Health System Saint Joseph of Arimathea Saint Joseph of Arimathea Saint Joseph Regional High School Saint Joseph retort process Saint Joseph River Saint Joseph the Betrothed Saint Joseph the Betrothed Saint Joseph the Worker Saint Joseph the Worker Saint Joseph Valley Masonry Contractors Association Saint Joseph's College, Indiana Saint Joseph's Day Saint Joseph's Institution Saint Joseph's Institution Military Band Saint Joseph's Preparatory School Saint Joseph's Primary School Saint Joseph's University Saint Jude Saint Jude Catholic School Saint Justin Martyr Saint Justin Martyr Saint Justus Saint Kentigern Trust Board Saint Kilda Saint Kilda Saint Kitts Saint Kitts Saint Kitts & Nevis Saint Kitts & Nevis Saint Kitts & Nevis Saint Kitts and Saint Kitts and Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Kitts and Nevis Labor Party Saint Kitts and Nevis, Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis, Federation of Saint Kitts Family Life Services Association Saint Kitts-Nevis Saint Kitts-Nevis Saint Ladislas

St. Joseph's Day (redirected from Saint Joseph's Day)

St. Joseph's Day
(redirected from Saint Joseph's Day)