San Giuseppe’s Day in Calabria.

On every March 19th, in Italy the San Giuseppe’s Day is celebrated as well as the Father’s Day.

According to tradition, San Giuseppe is the patron of the carpenters, artisans and the protector of the poor. In addition, he represents the figure of a devoted father who is able to love in an unconditional way, and a fascinating figure, a symbol of fatherhood and industriousness.

The choice of the date March 19, the eve of the Spring equinox, is due by the pagan rites of the Bacchanalia, when the Dionysian rites were celebrated in favor of the fertility and the agricultural activities. It’s the passage from Winter to Spring and in many villages of Calabria they still use the traditional bonfires, symbols of the purification.

Because of San Giuseppe is the protector of the poor, on this day it is used “u mmitu” (the invitation): in fact, in the families are prepared some dishes based on legumes representing the wealth, expecially the “lagane e ceci” (handmade tagliatelle with chickpeas) that they offer to the local poors. According to the tradition, the invitation includes only 3 poor people as symbol of the San Giuseppe’s family who was composed by just Maria, Jesus and him. It is also customary to prepare this dish in the “quadare” (pots) among the alleys and the squares of the villages to be eaten together and offered to the poor.

And in every celebration it doesn’t miss the traditional dessert: in Calabria it’s the “zeppola”, linked to the figure of the Saint. In fact, it is said that when San Giuseppe was forced to escape to Egypt from the massacre of the innocents ordered by Herod, according to the Christian tradition, in order to support his family, he become a seller of doughnuts.

The Calabrian version of zeppola it is different from the other ones in Italy, because it is prepared with a ricotta cream, made by sheep milk. There is also a salty version of the zeppola, especially in the Reggio Calabria area, with a very strong flavor because it is stuffed with anchovies.

During this period, for about 4 days, in Cosenza a traditional fair takes place: it dates back to 1234 when Frederick II of Sweden established it to push up the commercial activities. At first it was called Fiera della Maddalena, the name of the homonymous church in the old part of Cosenza, but when this one was destroyed by the earthquakes and the flooding of the Busento and Crati rivers, the fair was moved to the valley. For celebrating the new opening of the event which happend just on the San Giuseppe’s Day, it was called the “San Giuseppe’s Fair”.

For years it has taken place in the old part of the town, but then it has moved to the modern one where the spaces are largest and more comfortable. For 4 days the town is full of colors, smells and people who visit the stands of typical food and traditional handmade objects. Here you find the pots made of clay by the so called “pignatari”, the wickers used to make furniture or the traditional baskets called “cannistri” or the famous “panari” or “fulazze”, very important for drying the tomatos or the figs under the sun. And at the end every kind of plants and flowers.

San Giuseppe is a great celebration!

Valeria Bisciglia