Father’s Day is traditionally celebrated on the third Sunday of June throughout England and America and held on different dates throughout the world. In countries with Catholic traditions such as Italy and Spain, Father’s Day; known as the Festa del Papà is celebrated on what may be recognised as St. Joseph’s Day. The “Feast of St. Joseph”- San Giuseppe was celebrated and considered as a commemoration within the Anglican Communion and the Lutheran Church – but was principally considered as a Christian tradition, celebrated by Catholics, Anglicans and various Lutheran and other religious denominations.
Typical traditions associated with this Saint vary, but in Sicily as well as many Italian-American communities – thanks are given to San Giuseppe for preventing famine. On this day throughout Italy tables are adorned with flowers, candles, wine, bread and meatless dishes to respect the feast occurring during Lent – and in Naples – with Fava beans and sweet “Zeppole di San Giuseppe”. These delicious fried or ovenbaked cream cakes are known as Zeppole throughout Naples and Puglia and as “fritelle” in Rome and Florence.
The zeppole cake is known as a typical Neapolitan pastry claiming the fame having been created by Don Pasquale Pinatauro of Naples in 1840 and may be considered as one of the first street-foods.
Saint Joseph is the patron saint of various cities, regions and countries including Canada, China, Mexico, Austria, Belgium and Peru. He is also the patron saint of families, fathers, expectant mothers, carpenters and working people in general.
So, Happy Father’s Day!

Saint Patrick’s Day, or the Feast of Saint Patrick (Irish: Lá Fhéile Pádraig) is a cultural and religious celebration occurring annually on the 17th of March, the death date of the most commonly recognised patron saint of Ireland, Saint Patrick (c. AD 385-461). Historically, it is known that Irish society was pagan for thousands of years but was believed to have changed when groups of Christian missionaries, including St. Patrick himself, arrived… Saint Patrick’s Day was made an official Christian feast day in the early seventeenth-century and is observed by the Catholic Church, the Anglican Communion (especially the Church of Ireland), the Eastern Orthodox Church and Lutheran Church. This day commemorates Saint Patrick and the arrival of Christianity in Ireland, as well as celebrating the general heritage and culture of the Irish Population even though St. Patrick’s Day was considered a relatively minor celebration in Ireland until the 1970s. Today celebrations include public parades and festivals – céilithe.
As for the official colour, several antique artworks depict St. Patrick wearing blue vestments and blue was commonly used on coats-of-arms and flags representing Ireland.
The colour green is thought to have appeared on the scene in modern times to represent the so-called “Emerald Isle”. Saint Patrick’s Day is today widely celebrated by the Irish and Irish-at-heart around the world; especially in Great Britain, Canada, the United States, Argentina, Australia and New Zealand and is a public holiday in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.