Saint Joseph Festival with Sfincia and Votive Tables

A festival uniting the sacred and the popular

The Saint Joseph Festival in Carini, a town in the Metropolitan City of Palermo in Sicily, is one of the most cherished events in the local spring calendar. Around March 19th, the day dedicated to the patron saint of families and workers, the town experiences days of devotion and celebration that blend religious rites with popular customs deeply rooted in local culture.

The Saint Joseph Votive Tables

The heart of the tradition lies in the Saint Joseph votive tables, set up with devotion at various locations: the Oratory of Saint Joseph, the Church of Maria SS del Rosario, the Church of Saint Joseph at the Station, and the Church of Maria SS delle Grazie. These tables are laden with traditional dishes and votive breads, recalling the ancient gesture of hospitality toward the Holy Family and maintaining a strong spirit of solidarity: the food collected is donated to families in need.

The Carini sfincia

The signature dessert of the festival is the sfincia of Saint Joseph, a soft, ancient-style fritter, filled and topped with a delicate ricotta cream enriched with chocolate chips, chopped pistachios, candied cherries, and orange peel. Tasting these sfince, also prepared by local hospitality students, is one of the most delicious and anticipated moments of the event.

Traditional games

Alongside the religious dimension, the Carini festival preserves traditional folk games: the greasy pole, where participants climb a greased pole to reach prizes at the top, and the pignatieddi game, where blindfolded participants strike hanging pots to see if they contain sweets or tricks. Adding to the atmosphere is the characteristic parade of the Sicilian cart through the streets, evoking the island's rich folklore.

The March 19th procession

The highlight is March 19th: after Holy Mass and the welcoming of the Holy Family at the various tables, the statue of Saint Joseph is carried in procession through the streets of Carini's historic center in the late afternoon, accompanied by the devoted participation of the community. The setting is a village rich in history, dominated by the famous La Grua Talamanca Castle, tied to the legend of the Baroness of Carini.