Today is St. Joseph's Day, and in New Orleans many Italian families celebrate by making beautiful altars in their homes. Many churches also have elaborate altars for St. Joseph today too. There's also a parade to honor him in the French Quarter.
If you'd like to know more you can get this beautiful book HERE
It's by a local writer and photographer Kerri McCafferty.
It's filled beautiful images and a charming text. Unless you live in New Orleans, or are here visiting and get to a local New Orleans bookstore, it's a hard-to-find book.
If you love New Orleans history and culture, you will want this book.
Happy Weekend!
Great post, Vamp! I forgot it was St. J's Day...I need to find a lucky bean!
ReplyDeletethank you so much for reminding me. i just got off the phone with my brother to wish him a happy st. joseph's (his patron saint). back at home they are enjoying a special pasta dish and zeppole for dessert
ReplyDeleteWow!
ReplyDeleteI love religious relics!
L.
Thank you so much for this post, I'd never heard of this. While the Italians in our neck of the woods do celebrate, I'm not sure I've ever seen such elaborate alters. How wonderful.
ReplyDeleteHave I been living under a rock ? I've never heard of these. Very cool !!! Thanks
ReplyDeleteLisa
I didn't know about this either.
ReplyDeleteLove NewOrleans tho.
Kathy
My Grandmother had many religious items and I loved how she lived to love and serve the lord. I know her faith gave her strength to raise 9 children, and work til 93. She was a devout Catholic and I do love learning about religions and sacred rituals and celebrations.
ReplyDeletepve
NOLA is so cool. Even during Lent you find a way to make it a party!
ReplyDeleteValorie, That book sounds great, I would love to be there for the parade. Boston has that in the Nort end, they rope off the streets and party later.
ReplyDeleteWonderful Italian food ..
Great post and interesting..
yvonne
I had also forgotten it was St. Joseph's. In Spain it marks the start of the Easter celebrations and in Valencia most notably Las Feias (sp). Each neighborhood constructs incredible paper mache sculptures in their squares. All week there are fireworks, dancing in the streets and parades. I have a picture of my 10 year old self dressed as a Fiera, which I should send you. At the end of the week the sculptures are judged (some several stories high). The losing pieces are all set on fire on the last night- and the city blazes. After that begins the Easter festivities.
ReplyDeletelovely.... xx
ReplyDeletenever heard of it. i am a great fan of shrines. i seem to create them in my own home as well. thanks vv.
ReplyDeleteCheck! Another new thing I learned from your blog.
ReplyDelete