Discover the Lost History of
St. Joseph's Day in New Orleans
St. Joseph's Day in New Orleans investigates the origins and evolution of the holiday, revealing its deep connection to the mid-Lent celebration known as Mi-Carême. Through a meticulous review of historic newspaper accounts, archival resources, and city records, Laura Guccione shows that, in New Orleans, St. Joseph's Day and mid-Lent were not separate observances but two names for the same festive occasion.
Although St. Joseph's Day is often seen as a shared celebration between Black masking Indians and Sicilian Americans, Guccione argues that the two groups interpret the day differently: One sees it as part of mid-Lent, while the other views it as a sacred feast day for Sicily's patron saint. Despite these differences, both groups have historically used St. Joseph's Day as a platform to assert identity, cultural resistance, and community pride.
About
Laura Guccione
As a lifelong New Orleanian, I have loved history since childhood, from family visits to the French Market to decades spent in the service industry—bartending at places from the elegant Galatoire’s to local spots like Molly’s at the Market—and nurturing my creative side by owning a mask shop in the French Quarter with my sister for thirteen years. The passion that fueled my initial research was the Sicilian culture of New Orleans, often overlooked in history books and travel guides. After Hurricane Katrina, we closed our shop, and I went back to school to earn a culinary degree. I soon realized that, although I loved cooking, my true passion was the history of food and culture. With this insight, I returned to the University of New Orleans, where I earned a master’s degree in urban studies. Today, I am back in my 1830s Creole cottage in New Orleans' Bywater neighborhood, eagerly awaiting the publication of my first book by Louisiana State University Press, "St. Joseph’s Day in New Orleans,” in October 2026. I blend academic research with personal experience to reveal the city’s untold history.
