La Tavola del giorno dopo

La Tavola del giorno dopo in Lizzano

In the heart of the Taranto Salento, the town of Lizzano (province of Taranto, Puglia) preserves one of the most heartfelt traditions linked to the cult of Saint Joseph: «La Tavola del giorno dopo». As the name suggests, the event was born as a natural continuation of the famous Tables of Saint Joseph and takes place in the days immediately following March 19th, when the community gathers to share what the votive tables have offered.

The Tables of Saint Joseph

The Saint Joseph festival in Lizzano revolves around the Tables, set up in private homes and local associations. These are tables richly laid with traditional Salento peasant dishes: homemade pasta (massa), chickpeas and legumes, fish, seasonal vegetables, pittule, votive bread, and typical sweets. After the parish priest's blessing, the food is distributed to neighbors and to the poorest and most needy, according to an ancient logic of charity and hospitality.

The ritual of the day after

Once the day of March 19th is over, with the procession accompanied by the marching band and the solemn mass, the celebration does not end. «La Tavola del giorno dopo» collects the leftover dishes from the votive Tables and transforms them into a new moment of community: around the bonfires lit along the streets and in the peripheral areas of the town, locals and visitors from all over Puglia gather to eat together, sing, and celebrate. It is the so-called rite of purification, in which fire and the sharing of food seal the devotion to the saint.

A community heritage

The event is a widespread celebration, hosted from year to year by local families and associations, with the support of the Pro Loco of Lizzano and the participation of the entire community. In recent years, the Tavola del giorno dopo has found space in various homes and neighborhoods of the town, becoming an identity-defining appointment that unites different generations and attracts curious visitors and enthusiasts of Puglian folk traditions.

Why attend

• Discover an authentic and non-touristy rite of the Taranto Salento;
• Taste the dishes of the poor peasant cuisine linked to Saint Joseph;
• Experience the atmosphere of the bonfires and local conviviality;
• Get to know a community that makes generosity and hospitality a shared value.