Many people associate March with the color green, soda bread, Irish potatoes, and shamrocks as part of the festivities and customs in observance of Saint Patrick's Day on March 17. Parades are held throughout the country, and Chicago dyes its green river. However, another holiday of equal…
Many people associate March with the color green, soda bread, Irish potatoes, and shamrocks as part of the festivities and customs in observance of Saint Patrick's Day on March 17. Parades are held throughout the country, and Chicago dyes its green river. However, another holiday of equal importance, one that many need to familiarize themselves with, occurs two days later, on March 19.
The fava bean comes from the holiday's Sicilian origins as St. Joseph is the patron saint of Sicily. According to legend, a major drought in Sicily occurred during the Middle Ages, and the fava bean was the only nourishment to save Sicilians. On the brink of starvation, the people prayed to their patron saint to bring them rain. When their prayers were answered, a large feast was held in honor of St. Joseph.
Because the fava bean was the crop that saved Sicily from starvation, it became a traditional St. Joseph's Day food. And, as a result of its prominence in the lore of their survival, Sicilians use fava beans to make a paste for a dish, pasta with the maccu. "In New Orleans, where there is both a large Irish and a large Sicilian population, they actually have a parade which celebrates both holidays, and this seems to be a good solution," Allegrini said."After all, we Italian Americans are in no way opposed to also celebrating St. Patrick, who was born to Roman citizens and therefore was a son of our great empire."
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