L'Italo-Americano

THURSDAY, MARCH 7, 2024 www.italoamericano.org 12 L'Italo-Americano O l d S a i n t Joseph, what's i n y o u r b a s - k e t ? / F r e s h g r a s s , f r e s h violets/ nests, birds, and joy- f u l s u n ! / I n t h e s m a l l e s t nook/ I have a little flake of snow,/ a plate of fritters/ and so many other beautiful things!/ As spring arrives/ I s i n g a p r a y e r t o a l l / t h e prayer of love/ to Jesus, our Lord. (Teresa Romei Correg- gi) This poem, in a few lines, captures the most human aspect of the March 19th cele- bration honoring the figure of Patriarch Saint Joseph , husband of Mary and foster father of Jesus. In its own way, it narrates the unfolding of celebrations across much of Sicily, emphasizing in sim- ple words that it's a festival of the people — let's not forget Joseph was a craftsman — where local delicacies are savored and when, perhaps, the last snow of spring has fallen. A festival where flow- e r s p l a y a l e a d i n g r o l e , p r a y e r s a r e o f f e r e d , a n d where thanks are given to the saint for received graces. And the ethnologist from Palermo, Giuseppe Pitrè, in his Sicil- i a n F o l k S o n g s ( v o l . I I ) , includes a Prayer to Saint J o s e p h t h a t g o e s : " S a n Giusippuzzu di Muntulieddu/ N t e s t a p u r t a t i l u s a n t u cappeddu/Ed a li manu lu santu vastuni/San Giusip- puzzu di Muntuliuni"(Saint Giuseppino of Monteleone/ On your head you carry the holy hat, / And in your hand the holy staff, / Saint Giusep- pino of Monteleone." In the Catholic calendar, March 19th is dedicated to celebrating Saint Joseph, and it's a day marked by joyous festivities across many Sicil- ian towns. In some places, the d e v o t i o n i s p a r t i c u l a r l y intense, with events leading up to and on the day itself drawing large numbers of the faithful. One such tradition, boasting four centuries of his- tory, is observed in Leon- f o r t e , i n t h e p r o v i n c e o f Enna. Here, the custom of the Artara (altar) of Saint Joseph involves setting up "altars" throughout the community. These are essentially tables laden with food, drawing visi- tors from across the province and beyond to partake in one of the region's most heartfelt celebrations. Starting in the afternoon of March 18th, a variety of local delicacies pre- pared in honor of the saint can be enjoyed. These include cardoons, sfingi (sweet frit- ters), fennel, wines, broad beans, chickpeas, pupidduzzi (specially shaped blessed bread), and many other local products, all offered for free by the organizers. The quest to find these Artara altars takes revelers through the s t r e e t s o f L e o n f o r t e , a n adventure that lasts all night. Once marked by shoeboxes w r a p p e d a n d l i t w i t h t h e inscription W S.G. (Long live Saint Joseph), today's guides are shining stars illuminated by small lights. The festivities also include the recitation of r a z i u n e d d i ( d i a l e c t i c a l prayers recounting the life of Jesus), performed by young- sters. These children then receive pupiddi, which they wear around their necks as n e c k l a c e s a n d t r o p h i e s , almost as if they were gener- als returning from battle. T h e t a b l e s a r e l a i d b y those who have asked for a blessing and, having received it, offer food to thank the saint, protector of the poor. Bread is undeniably the cen- terpiece of every table. It's a tradition for the women of the household to prepare it, intricately shaping it into almost sculptural forms (cud- dure), each with a specific meaning and intended use w h e n o f f e r e d , a l o n g w i t h other dishes, to the "Saints." On the Artara, one can find also omelets, fennel patties, cardoons, chickpeas, early produce, sweets, and more. A drapery of bridal veils (cielo), arranged like a canopy with an image of Saint Joseph among them, completes the altar. Those setting the tables a r e i n d i v i d u a l s w h o h a v e sought and received a divine grace, offering food in grati- tude to the saint who watches over the poor. Bread reigns supreme on these tables, tra- ditionally prepared by the women of the household. T h e y c r a f t i t i n t o a l m o s t sculptural forms known as cuddure, each with its own specific meaning and pur- pose when offered, alongside other dishes like omelets, fennel meatballs, cardoons, chickpeas, early produce, sweets, and more, dedicated to the "Saints." A canopy of bridal veils, known as cielo, and an image of Saint Joseph amidst the veils, complete the a l t a r . T h e f o l l o w i n g d a y , March 19th, marks the culmi- n a t i o n , w i t h t h e " S a i n t s " receiving the feast laid out on the altar. Historically, the most needy were called to this role, allowing them sus- tenance for weeks, thus ful- filling the provider's vow. Today, as many dishes as were offered by the host are distributed to each "saint," not before the host performs a washing and kissing of feet, echoing the Last Supper ritu- al. In Donnalucata, a ham- let of Scicli, on March 8th, 9th, and 10th, one can wit- ness the gathering and tradi- tional parade of the Caval- cata di San Giuseppe, this year celebrating its thirty- ninth edition. Musicians and f l a g - w a v e r s f r o m n e a r b y Floridia also participate, with the festival announced by r i n g i n g b e l l s a n d c a n n o n shots. It continues with a parade of Sicilian carts and festively adorned horses, and a procession behind the stat- ue of the saint, concluding the celebrations with an auc- tion of gifts during the tradi- tional dinner offered by the devotees to Saint Joseph. In the Ragusan municipal- ity of Scicli, the commemo- ration unfolds over the 15th, 16th, and 17th, with the Cav- alcata di San Giuseppe tak- ing place on the 16th. Origi- nally a medieval festivity aimed at invoking rain for a subsequent bountiful harvest, it has evolved into a celebra- tion of the Holy Patriarch. The horse trappings for the Cavalcata are prepared in the dammusi (ground floor r o o m s o f t h e h o u s e s ) b y numerous people who, once using a framework of palm branches and now on burlap canvases, weave thousands of violets (u bàlucu), creating tapestries that depict the Holy Family and other sacred themes. Riders in traditional peasant attire, consisting of black velvet trousers and vests, embroidered white shirts, multicolored sashes woven at the hips, red neck- erchiefs, soft hats (burritta), boots, and reed pipes, mount magnificent steeds. At the head of the procession, three figures representing Jesus, Joseph, and Mary lead the way. As the parade moves through the city, it passes by pagghiara (bonfires) lit by the faithful in anticipation of t h e i r p a s s a g e . A l o n g t h e route, riders and townspeo- ple "light" the path for the Holy Family, holding torches made of ciaccari (Mauritian grass) aflame. Meanwhile, on the western side of the island's southern c o a s t , p r e p a r a t i o n s a r e underway for the Almond Blossom Festival, a herald of the beautiful spring sea- son. It brings together people from foreign nations in the spirit of peace and brother- hood, showcasing their finest folk groups annually. Com- peting for the coveted Gold- e n T e m p l e a w a r d f r o m March 9th to 17th, 2024, will b e A l b a n i a , C a m e r o o n , Colombia, Korea, Ecuador, G e o r g i a , J a p a n , G r e e c e , India, Italy, Latvia, Macedo- nia, Malta, Mexico, Montene- gro, Poland, Romania, Rus- s i y a n a ( a R u s s i a n a n d Character Dance Company based in Milan), Serbia, Slo- vakia, Spain, and Ukraine. After all groups have per- formed, the award will be presented near the Temple of Concordia. The Valley of the Temples w i l l b e f i l l e d w i t h p e t a l s , music, and embraces, bring- ing to mind the exquisite painting Almond Blossom by V a n G o g h , w h o , o v e r - whelmed by the emotion of his nephew's birth (who was named after him), gifted it as a symbol of rebirth, just as spring marks the awakening of the fields so dear to him, and of life itself. Similarly, the celebrations in honor of the Universal C h u r c h ' s P a t r o n S a i n t , Joseph, remind us that after every winter, spring always follows, bringing renewal and hope. TERESA DI FRESCO Saint Joseph, Patron of the Universal Church LIFE PEOPLE PLACES HERITAGE A moment of the Cavalcata di San Giuseppe in Scicli (Photo: Angelo Giampiccolo/Shutterstock)

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