Alisea CultraroClass 3BWritten by

It is the Day when children celebrate their own Fathers.

They give them presents, cards, gifts…

In Acate - and in other towns in the south of Italy- it is a special day …

This is an old Sicilian

tradition .

During a terrible famine

due to no rain the

people pleaded to St.

Joseph, their patron, for

relief from their terrible

situation. At last it

started to rain again and

the people rejoiced.

To show their gratitude,

Sicilians prepared a

table with a special

assortment of foods they

had harvested.

After paying honor to St.

Joseph, they distributed

the food to the less

fortunate.

St Joseph’s Altar

‘St Joseph’s Day’ is a veryimportant feast in Acate.

It is tradition to erect the

‘altars’ (in the photo) at home

or other places such as

schools.

Each altar consists of three

levels. The three levels, which

represent the Holy Trinity, are

draped in white linen and

covered with flowers.

On the altar we put different

kind of food:there are a lot of

cakes, biscuits, fruits, wine,

homemade bread, sweets and

all kind of vegetables.

When the feast is over, the

remaining food and the

collected money are given

to the poor.

Many families believe that having a St. Joseph Altar can bring good fortune. And it is common to hear stories about favors received (a loved one's recovery from an illness, for example), which are in turn attributed to the family's dedication to St. Joseph.

Children are selected to portray members of the Holy Family—Jesus, Mary and Joseph: the "saints" go door to door to seek aid until finally reaching the place where the altar is on display.

WE USE TO MAKE “BADDOTTI”.

IT CONSISTS OF SMALL TIMBALES OF RICE AND RICOTTA MIXED WITH EGGS, CHEESE AND SPICED WITH CINNAMON.

THERE IS ALSO A LOCAL ROUND- SHAPED BREAD CALLED “CUCCIDDATU”.

IN ACATE THE TRADITIONAL DISHES ARE SERVED DURING THIS DAY

IN THE AFTERNOONWE DO THE POLE.PEOPLE BUY ANIMALS ,FOODS, PICTURES…..

THE MONEY IS USEDFOR POOR PEOPLE.

IN THE EVENING THE STATUE OF THE SAINT IS TAKEN OUTSIDE THE CHURCH THROUGHOUT THE STREETS OF ACATE AND WE FOLLOW IT IN PROCESSION TO ADORE THE SAINT.