Father’s Day & St. Joseph’s Day in Italy

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St. Joseph Day Cake – Isgro’s in Philadelphia

March 19, 2026

Joanne Natale Spigonardo

Happy St. Joseph’s Day and Happy Father’s Day to everyone in the Universe but especially to everyone in Italy. The celebration of Father’s Day or the Festa del Papa in Italy is deeply connected to the religious feast of Saint Joseph San Giuseppe, and is observed every March 19. The feast day is a combination of the sacred and family traditions which makes it into a nationwide tribute to fatherhood, which includes the infamous centuries-old St. Joseph’s Day cake!

The choice of March 19 for Father’s Day is deeply rooted in Catholic tradition. Saint Joseph, the earthly father of Jesus, is revered as the ultimate symbol of devotion, protection, and humble labor. St. Joseph is the patron saint of fathers, carpenters, and workers.  The feast day dates back to the Middle Ages. In Sicily, legend says people prayed to St. Joseph to end a devastating famine; when the rains came, they honored him with a “St. Joseph’s Table”- Tavola di San Giuseppe filled with food for the poor.

While it originated as a religious feast, it was officially recognized as a national holiday in Italy in 1968, though it is no longer a public day off. A part of this celebration is the distribution and enjoyment of le zeppole di San Giuseppe.  The day is a reprieve from the Lenten fast, and what a way to celebrate with these light choux pastries which are either deep fried or baked.  The filling could be ricotta and chocolate or pastry creams in all flavors. Some legends say St. Joseph sold fried dough to support his family during the flight to Egypt, linking the act of frying to his name.

St. Joseph & The Christ Child – Oil on Canvas Painting – Artist Unknown

Today, Father’s Day in Italy remains a blend of these ancient customs and modern gestures. Children in schools often spend the day creating handmade cards, drawings, or reciting poems for their fathers. Families gather for festive, often meatless, meals (as the day falls during Lent), ending the lunch with a tray of St. Joseph’s Day cakes from regional pastries from the local pasticceria. In every bite of a zeppola, Italians celebrate not just their own fathers, but a legacy of protection and sacrifice that has been passed down through the centuries.

I hope you celebrate your Fathers and those that are like Fathers to you.  We are deeply shaped from their love and mentorship through our lives. St. Joseph is a perfect example of this love.  Remembering my wonderful Father, Angelo Michele Natale, on this beautiful day!

Angelo Michele Natale – My Wonderful Father Circa 1942

About the Author

Joanne Natale Spigonardo has many years of experience in travel to Italy, Italian art, music, literature, film, history, wine, and cuisine. She is a lover of nature and beauty.  She is an advocate for Italian immigrant women, and the author of White Widow, which is available on Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/White-Widow-Joanne-Natale-Spigonardo/dp/B085DT65DB.  For more information about Joanne please visit her LinkedIn page:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/joanne-spigonardo-b4824a9/.

Published by spigonaj

Joanne Spigonardo Business Development Consultant Specializing in Sustainability, Higher Education, Career Management, and Public Relations In her former roles, Joanne served as Senior Associate Director at the Initiative for Global Environmental Leadership (IGEL) at Wharton. Joanne was also part of the Communications Office. She held positions as business manager of the Wharton Seminars for Business Journalists and for the Wharton Alumni Magazine. Joanne also served as the media relations coordinator. When with Alitalia Airlines, Joanne worked as a sales representative. Joanne graduated from The University of Pennsylvania with a BA and later graduated from the Wharton Aresty Institute of Executive Education. She has a strong background in development, management, marketing, and Italian language and culture. As a Wharton Mentor, she coached new employees on professional development, and is active in Penn’s Grievance panels. Joanne was on the board of governors for the University Club. Joanne is chair of the Delaware County Penn Alumni Interview Program and oversees alumni volunteers. As an alum of Penn and Wharton, and also a parent of two Penn graduates, she is a strong advocate in promoting Penn. At Wharton IGEL, Joanne had been in partnership with GreenBiz, Sustainable Brands, the Ethical Corporation, Pira Packaging International, Public Relations Society of America, the Green Sports Alliance, World Trade Center of Greater Philadelphia, the Italian Consulate, the Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce, the Sonoma County Winegrowers Association, and the Nature Conservancy, as well as, many other NGO and government offices. She has brokered hundreds of corporate relationships for Wharton. Joanne is the author of her book, White Widow, published on Kindle and Amazon. The book is a fictional novel about 19th-20th Century Italian immigrants. https://www.amazon.com/White-Widow-Joanne-Natale-Spigonardo/dp/B085DT65DB

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