Today, parents only work half a day; 4 traditions (and something new) on Father’s Day

A quick trip through Italy, Spain, Malta and Bolivia. There are places where this Saint Joseph’s Day is a holiday – or half a holiday.

It is another day that is celebrated with links to the Church: the Father’s Day is celebrated on March 19th because of the Catholic tradition of Saint Joseph’s Day.

Joseph, husband of Mary, was the adoptive father of Jesus. And he is the patron saint of parents in many Christian contexts. In the Western Church, the feast of Saint Joseph has been marked on March 19 since at least the beginning of the 14th century.

There are some more peculiar traditions. Here we leave four – and a very “fresh” news.

Sicily, Italy

The most unusual must be in this part of Italy: Father’s Day is an altar ceremony, with ritual food and religious promise; They don’t stop at gifts or lunches at their father’s house. In several areas of Sicily, this day involves the “Tables of Saint Joseph”: altars or devout tables set up in homes, parishes and squares, loaded with bread, sweets and other foods for community sharing. It is a religious ritual, with charity and a public banquet.

Valencia, Spain

It is the high point, the last day of the Fallas: monuments are burned in Cremà on the night of March 19th. Here, Father’s Day coincides with a great urban festival of satire, ephemeral art, fire and gunpowder.

Malta

It’s a holiday here. The celebration includes masses, processions with the image of Saint Joseph, as well as music bands and fireworks. It is a kind of symbolic fatherhood celebration with a civic and festive weight.

Naples (and other areas of Italy)

The father celebrates with a “calendar” sweet. March 19th is strongly linked to the zeppole di San Giuseppe, a seasonal sweet associated with Saint Joseph and Father’s Day. Some people put flowers, ties or cards. Italy has this identity sweet, which practically works as an official marker of the date.

Bolivia

We close with a very recent decision. This Wednesday, the eve of Father’s Day, the Bolivian Ministry of Labor announced half a day of work exemption for working fathers, whether in the public or private sector. Anyone who is a father only works half a day today.