Feast Day: March 19 / 19. Marca
In Poland, it is customary to celebrate “Imienien” or Namesday, the feast day of one’s patron saint. To allow the many Josephs to celebrate their namesday, the Church would grant a dispensation from the rigors of Lent on March 19. Because St. Joseph’s Day is a Lenten solemnity, the tradition has been to serve meatless foods so that the meal becomes a “festive fast.” St. Joseph, patron of the universal Church, patron of families, patron of workers, patron of social justice, patron of the dying, patron of pastry makers, and patron of fathers, is a very important and beloved saint.
Images of St. Joseph most often depict him with the child Jesus in his arms, with the Holy Family, at a work table, with carpenter’s tools, or with a lily.