St. Joseph's Day: March 19

Called a just and righteous man in the Gospels, Joseph was the Virgin Mary's husband and Jesus' adoptive father. He is the patron saint of a great multitude of people and things, including carpenters, cabinetmakers, engineers, people in doubt, social justice, pregnant women, and emigrants.

During the Middle Ages, the people of Sicily promised to prepare a great feast in Saint Joseph's honor if he ended a severe drought. According to legend, the rain came shortly after Joseph heard their pleas. The townspeople, true to their word, set up huge banquet tables and invited the poor to sit and eat as much as they wished. Now known as St. Joseph's Day, this tradition is still celebrated by many Italians and Italian-Americans.