St. Joseph's Day Altars |
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St. Joseph's Day Altars |
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Background
The St. Joseph's Day altar tradition was brought to New Orleans by Sicilian
immigrants. The tradition of building the altar to St. Joseph dates as far back
as the Middle Ages in gratitude to St. Joseph for answering prayers for
deliverance from famine. The families of farmers and fisherman built altars in
their homes to share their good fortune with others in need. The tradition grew
to a more public event on St. Joseph's Feast Day on March 19. Today the
individuals who work on the altars are fulfilling their own promises to St.
Joseph "to share their blessings with those in need." (Mary's Helpers, Inc.
News [MHIN]: 2.25.98) Without exception, the altar workers explained that they
contributed to the altars not for their own purposes but 'for St. Joseph' or for
a family member or friend. (Chupa:98)
All altar items are obtained through begging. |
 St. Joseph Cake, Lubrano altar, 2008 St. Joseph Altar, Violet, 1997 |
The altar must not
incur "any expense nor any personal financial gain." (MHIN: 98) As an act of devotion to St.
Joseph, supplicants would promise to build an altar should their sons return home
from war safely. Part of the personal sacrifice involved was the act of begging
for food.(Chupa:98)
Although there are perishable foods on the altars, a large portion of the breads,
cookies and cakes are wrapped so that they may be given to charities after the
altar is broken. The altar is broken after a ceremony which reenacts the Holy
Family searching for food. The ceremony is called Tupa Tupa "which in Italian
means Knock Knock." Children dressed as the Holy Family "knock at three doors asking for
food and shelter. At the first two they are refused. At the third door, the host
of the Altar greets them and welcomes them to refresh themselves." (MHIN: 98) |
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St. Joseph Altar, Gretna, 1998 |
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Butler's Lives of the Saints lists St. Joseph as the patron saint of Families,
Working Men, Social Justice, and the Church. St. Joseph is also the Patron Saint
of the dying.(1991) Following the blessing of the altar on the afternoon of March
18, visitors are invited to leave written petitions to St. Joseph or donations
for the poor. The Mary's Helper Newsletter invited people to mail their petitions
for the altar in the event that they could not visit personally.
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Spiritualism and Vodun Connection
My curiosity about the St. Joseph's Day altars began while I was researching African Vodun in New Orleans. In my search for more
information on Damballah, (an African spirit who came to be associated with St.
Patrick and with Moses in the syncretized Vodun of new world contexts), I noticed
frequent references to St. Joseph and Spiritual Churches. Spiritual church congregants who honored Black Hawk
as a patron spirit of social justice simultaneously honored St. Joseph and Moses
in prominent positions on their altars.
The Mary's Helpers Newsletter makes an interesting connection in the
interpretation of Joseph as a deliverer. "It was told to the Israelites in the
Old Testament, 'Go to Joseph,' if they wanted any favor or benefit, referring to
the Joseph of Egypt. 'Go to Joseph,' is the advice and counsel given to every
Catholic who wants a favor and believes in the sanctity of the Holy Family."
More on Sicilians in New Orleans
Following Katrina, the GNOIC sponsored altar moved to the Holy Rosary Academy on
3368 Esplanade Ave. In 2008 the altar was hosted at Our Lady of the Rosary Church
in Vincent Hall, 1324 Moss St. For the first solemnity of St. Joseph following Katrina,
the Knight of Columbus from Chalmette joined their service with that of many other volunteers
to provide an altar under a large tent in Arabi.
The concentration of Sicilian immigrants in New Orleans explains why this
tradition is so prevalent in this southeastern city. Whereas most immigrants
from Naples "settled in New York and other cities along the eastern seaboard" the
Sicilians "sailed from Palermo and landed in New Orleans." Between 1850 and 1870,
the U.S. Census Bureau estimates that there were more Italians in New Orleans
than in any other U.S. city. By 1910, the population of the city's French Quarter
was 80 percent Italian. In 1998 there were 200,000 Americans of Italian descent
living in New Orleans and its suburbs, making Italian Americans the largest
ethnic group in the city."(Maselli: IADI:Spring 1998)
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Symbols on the St. Joseph's Day Altar
Many of the altars we visited were constructed in the form of a Latin cross with
two additional tables running parallel to the length of the cross. This
tripartite arrangement refers to the Trinity. A statue of St. Joseph or a picture
of the Holy family is usually at the top of the altar. (Gretna:1998)
"All of the items on the altar - food, candles, medals, holy cards and fava beans
- are blessed by a priest in a special ceremony the afternoon before an altar is
'broken.'" That evening people may visit to pray and leave petitions. Donations
are collected for the poor. (Gretna:1998) A fresh green branch is placed over doorways to indicate that the public is
invited to participate "in the ceremony and to share the food." (Gretna:1998)
The specially prepared breads on the St. Joseph's altar take many forms. As
this custom is observed during the Lenten season, and the tradition was begun in
Sicily where fish and shellfish were more
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detail: St Joseph Altar, Gretna, 1999
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common than meat, decorative breads in the form of shellfish are common. Other symbolic imagery might include tools used by a carpenter (ladder, saw, hammer, nails as well as sandles, lilies
and a staff. Some of the breads are prepared with a decorative interlace and filled with figs, alluding to the fig orchards of Sicily. (Gretna:1998)
Breads and cakes may also take the form of more common Christian symbols, i.e.,
the Monstrance or Spada which holds the sacred Host; the Chalice, which refers to
the consecration of the Bread and Wine at the Last Supper; the Cross (crucifixion
of Christ), Dove (Holy Spirit), Lamb, Fish (Jesus as the Lamb of God and the
Fisher of Men); and Hearts (Sacred Heart of Jesus, Immaculate Heart of Mary). A
heart pierced by a dagger also refers to the grieving mother or Mater Dolorosa
and may bear the names of recently departed loved ones. A Crown of Thorns
refers to martyrdom and palms represent eternal love. (Gretna:1998)
Wine bottles on the altar refer to the miracle of Cana and the twelve whole fish
represent the twelve apostles and the miracle of the loaves and the fishes.
Images specific to Sicily include grapes, olives and figs referring to the
orchards and vineyards in Sicily. Two prepared foods that are commonly seen on
the altar include the Pignolatti and the Pupaculova. The Pignolatti are fried
pastry balls joined together in the shape of a pine cone representing "the pine
cones Jesus played with as a child." The Pupaculova is a baked bread which
encloses a dyed Easter egg representing the "coming of Easter." (Gretna:1998)
Bread crumbs or "Mudica" are served as a seasoning over the Pasta Milanese on St.
Joseph's Feast Day and symbolize sawdust. (Gretna:1998)
"Small bags are given as keepsakes to all who visit the
altar. Each bag may contain a blessed medal, holy card, fava beans, cookies or
bread." (Gretna:1998)
The people we spoke to had several interpretations regarding the appearance of
lemons on the altars. Citrus fruits refer once again to the
orchards of Sicily. One woman said that it was good luck to "steal" a lemon from
the altar leaving hidden coins behind for the poor.(Chupa:98) Several women told
us that a lemon blessed on St. Joseph's altar will not turn black and is a symbol
of good luck.(Chupa:97) Another woman said that the lemons are for young married
women who want to become pregnant. Still others mentioned that during certain
periods, the lemon was a luxury so its appearance on the altar is a way of
returning ones good fortune to others.(Chupa:98)
Artichokes figure prominently in the food served and when they are available in
abundance, stuffed artichokes may also appear on the altars. Because
artichokes were so scarce in 1998, they were not seen on the four altars we visited.
Perhaps the most significant symbol to be found on the altar is the lucky Fava
Bean. "The gift of a blessed bean is the most well known of the customs
associated with the St. Joseph's Day altar. During one of Sicily's severe
famines, the fava bean thrived while other crops failed. It was originally grown
for animal fodder, but because of its amazing resilience, it became the
sustaining food of the farmers and their families. The dried bean is commonly
called the 'lucky bean.' Legend has it that the person who carries a 'lucky
bean' will never be without coins. The fava bean also is a token of the St.
Joseph's Altar, and a reminder to pray to St. Joseph." (Gretna:1998)
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References
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HomeSaints Among Us An Exhibtion of Works Influenced by Photographs of the Ave Maria Grotto and St. Joseph Altars. Created by Anna Maria Chupa
Copyright © 1998-2008 Anna Maria Chupa. All rights reserved.