St. Joseph’s Day Traditions
Altars
St. Joseph altars, representing the Holy Trinity, are divided into three sections with a statue of St. Joseph at the head. The devout place candles, figurines, flowers, medals, and other items around the altar creating a beautiful, lush, and overflowing effect. Because the altars thank St. Joseph for relieving hunger, offerings of food are added to the cornucopia that anyone is welcome to feast on during the holiday.
You can find these temporary altars throughout the city, including at the locations below:
Irene’s - The Sicilian French Quarter restaurant will host a St. Joseph’s Day altar open to the public on March 18 and March 19 from 5-9:30 p.m. The altar will be blessed daily featuring a seminarian chant. There will also be a reservation-only St. Joseph’s Day feast. To inquire about reservations, call (504) 529-8811 after 4 p.m. Tues-Sat.
St. Joseph Cemetery No. 1 - Located at 2200 Washington Ave., St. Joseph Cemetery No. 1 will host an inaugural St. Joseph’s Day altar on March 19. A blessing by Deacon Richard Brady of St. Louis Cathedral, assisted by Eduardo Melendreras, will occur at 10 a.m. Public viewing is from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. All are encouraged to bring memorial photographs of their deceased loved ones to place on the altar.
Beauregard-Keyes House - This historic French Quarter residence will have a St. Joseph's Day altar open to the public for viewing fromMarch 16-19, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily. Also on display will be examples of suits made for the Black Masking Tradition of New Orleans, as St. Joseph's Day also coincides with Super Sunday.
