Global New Orleans hosted a very special dinner to celebrate St. Joseph in the home of our Executive Director, Laila Bondi. Dinner will be al fresco (weather permitting) and will include a meal, dessert, and wine, plus the ubiquitous goodie bag with cookies, a fava bean and some Global New Orleans swag.

A part of the diverse cultural history of New Orleans, the French Quarter was once referred to as Little Palermo - its many Sicilian immigrants brought the tradition of the Saint Joseph’s altar, which is much-loved and celebrated by many in South Louisiana, not exclusively Sicilians.

The story goes that during the Middle Ages, Sicily was affected by a terrible drought and famine: many people died of starvation and Sicilians started praying to St. Joseph to bring rain, promising to celebrate his day with an altar filled with special foods, flowers, and devotional objects to give thanks. The rains came, and so the offerings became an annual tradition.

Today, we celebrate St. Joseph’s day with an altar featuring breads in an assortment of shapes, fava beans, lemons and more. Since St. Joseph’s Day falls during Lent, no meat is served, but instead the star is pasta con le sarde (pasta with sardines, pine nuts, raisins and fennel) a bevy of fried vegetables, and the many sweets; cuccidati, sfinge, and pignolati.