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.
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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.
Praise for the Book
“In a city ripe with Twelfth Night lore, it is a bliss-filled epiphany to devour Laura Guccione’s exploration of St. Joseph’s Day, from colonial Creole rituals to the immigrant Sicilian’s spiritual connection to St. Joseph.” ~Bethany Ewald Bultman, contributing editor, French Quarter Journal, and author of Compass American Guide: New Orleans
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“Laura Guccione’s fresh approach to New Orleans history explores the city’s religious observances and cultural traditions to unveil the mystery of St. Joseph’s Day, giving us a new understanding of an old celebration.” ~Al Kennedy, author of Chief of Chiefs: Robert Nathaniel Lee and the Mardi Gras Indians of New Orleans, 1915–2001
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“Drawing on her personal connection to the topic, historian Laura Guccione takes a deep dive into a much-loved New Orleans cultural tradition to reveal the interwoven networks of ethnicity, religion, and foodways that make up the ever-fascinating, complex culture that is New Orleans.” ~Connie Zeanah Atkinson, professor emerita, University of New Orleans
St. Joseph's Day in New Orleans
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