Saint Joseph's Feast — Tavole di San Giuseppe

An ancient devotion in the heart of the Agrigento province

In Ravanusa, a town in the province of Agrigento, Sicily, the Saint Joseph's Feast is one of the most deeply rooted events in the local calendar. The cult of the Patriarch, protector of the Holy Family and patron saint of carpenters, is renewed every year on March 19th with a ritual that intertwines faith, rural tradition, and community generosity: the famous Tavole di San Giuseppe.

The Tavole di San Giuseppe

The heart of the festival lies in the votive tables, set up by families and associations as a gesture of thanksgiving for a grace received. Numerous tables are set up in Ravanusa, distributed among private homes, associations, and local facilities, which become a destination for a continuous pilgrimage of faithful and visitors in the days leading up to the feast. The tables are adorned with artistic breads in symbolic shapes, traditional pastries, omelets, tarts, chocolate eggs, and martorana fruit, alongside staples like pasta, milk, rice, and biscuits.

Alongside the food, one can find carpenter's tools — hammers, saws, pincers — small symbols recalling the trade of Saint Joseph. Originally, it was the carpenters themselves, devoted to their patron, who prepared the tables in his honor; over time, the custom became a shared moment for the entire community, which collects food to distribute to those in need, giving the festival a strong solidarity dimension.

The day of March 19th

The day of the feast opens with the alborata (dawn salute) and continues with a dense religious program: morning masses, the morning procession featuring local school students, and the late afternoon Eucharistic celebration with the presentation of the «Staff of Saint Joseph» by the Mayor. In the evening, the town procession takes place, followed by the evocative sacred re-enactment of the «Flight into Egypt» with costumed actors, fireworks, and a prayer of thanksgiving to the Saint.

Between faith and community

The festivities are organized by the San Giuseppe Rectory together with the festival committee, involving numerous local associations. More than just a religious event, the Saint Joseph's Feast in Ravanusa is an identity-defining ritual that gathers the community every year around the values of devotion, hospitality, and sharing, in one of the most authentic expressions of inland Sicily.