#ritualbread

Today was our annual Saint Joseph's ritual breadmaking workshop. This year, @experiencesicily partnered with @noiaw. This bread making practice is a form of prayer to San Giuseppe. The loaves, which are made in the shape of flowers, doves, fava beans, and carpentry tools, to name a few, are meant to thank this patron of fathers, fatherhood, carpenters, and those who toil for their work for having gotten us through the famine (of winter) and/or asking for protection or abundance for the year ahead. The breads will be placed on our altar for St. Joseph during next Sunday's feast of San Giuseppe luncheon in New York City. Join us to celebrate spring'! Register at link in bio or at ExperienceSicily.com. #experiencesicily #sicily #sicilia #sicilytravel #italy #italia #saintjospeh #sangiuseppe #panerituale #ritualbread (at Cacio e Vino) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cptmno8si5K/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Sources: Петар Костић , Збирка шаралица за обредне хлебове у етнографском музеју у Београду, Гласник Етнографсог музеја у Београду, књ. 30, стр. 91-112. Picture: “Lopar” from Pag

Join me to recognize St. Joseph's Day on Thursday, March 18 at 8PM Eastern. Register at link in bio @experiencesicily You'll learn more about the feast. Such as, on traditional St. Joseph's Day altars or le tavolate di San Giuseppe, you will see these three types of loaves pictured. On the left is the staff (vastuni), which represents Joseph, the father (the symbol of male fertility), who you will often see carrying a baton in his imagery. In the center is a round wreath (cuddureddi), which illustrates Mary, the mother (the representative of female fertility/the womb/goddess of the grain), and on the right, a palm (parma), which designates Jesus, the son and the martyr (also eternal life/rebirth/spring/life cycle). It's very profound. Then within those forms, you'll see other imagery, such as grapes (wine harvest and prosperity), fish (innocence), flowers (elevated spirituality, detachment from earthly possessions). I hope to see you Thursday night! #experiencesicily #sicily #salemi #trapani #ritualbread #panerituale #sangiuseppe #saintjoseph #festadisangiuseppe #stjosephsday #sicilia #siciliabedda #italy #italia #sicilyvacation #sicilians_world #ig_sicily #igerssicilia #instasicilia #siculamenteDoc #sicily_tricolors #ig_visitsicily #Sicilia_PhotoGroup #smallgrouptours #traveltogether #authenticsicily #sicilytour (at Salemi) https://www.instagram.com/p/CMiYeOGlQOc/?igshid=5j4qrz7wxpuc

Today we created bread loaves for Saint Joseph to express our gratitude and ask for support for the year ahead. It's amazing how powerful this medicine can be. Viva San Giuseppe! Thank you @cacioevinonyc for hosting our messy @experiencesicily day! See you next Sunday for our prix-fixe lunch feast! Join us in New York City at https://experiencesicily.com/saint-josephs-day-in-new-york-city/ #bread #pane #ritualbread #panerituale #saintjosephsday #stjosephsday #cacioevino #nyc #stjosephnyc #newyorkcity #sangiuseppe #saintjoseph #experiencesicily #sicily #sicilia #siciliabedda #italy #italia #sicilyvacation #sicilians_world #ig_sicily #igerssicilia #instasicilia #ig_visitsicily #Sicilia_PhotoGroup #smallgrouptours #traveltogether #authenticsicily #sicilytour #whatsicilyis (at Cacio e Vino) https://www.instagram.com/p/B9f7VI4lTHr/?igshid=elh9o57elhcd

Ritual bread loaves made for St. Joseph (San Giuseppe) that are in the shape of flowers signify elevated spirituality and detachment from earthly possessions. These pictured were made by women in Salemi, Sicily, where San Giuseppe is strongly venerated. Join @experiencesicily this Sunday in New York City @cacioevinonyc to make bread for St. Joseph's Day. More details and reserve your spot at https://experiencesicily.com/saint-josephs-day-in-new-york-city/ #bread #pane #ritualbread #panerituale #salemi #trapani #saintjosephsday #stjosephsday #cacioevino #nyc #newyorkcity #sangiuseppe #saintjoseph #altar #experiencesicily #sicily #sicilia #siciliabedda #italy #italia #sicilyvacation #sicilians_world #ig_sicily #igerssicilia #instasicilia #gf_italy #siculamenteDoc #sicily_tricolors #ig_visitsicily #Sicilia_PhotoGroup (at Salemi) https://www.instagram.com/p/B9b0kpnFGBn/?igshid=nbtz2elfvnoz

Probably the most distinct ritual of Saint Joseph’s Day, which is celebrated annually on March 19, revolves around the celebration of bread, which in Sicily and southern Italy is sacred because wheat, its principle ingredient, is the most important crop of the region. The preparation of altars, or tables, known as le tavolate di San Giuseppe (or a Tavulatu di San Giuseppe in Sicilian), are the most remarkable tribute to Saint Joseph, the patron of fathers, fatherhood, carpenters, and those who toil for their work. The altars, which are made for homes and also public meeting places, are an act of prayer. They represent thanksgiving for the mercy and generosity the Saint has granted to their families and friends, and they are a grand display of local specialties and sweets augmented with citrus fruits, vegetables, wine, candles, pictures of the Saint and deceased loved ones, and plant elements such as nuts, seeds, beans, flowers, and laurel leaves. Join me on Sunday, March 8 at 2pm in New York City to make bread following this ancient tradition. Details and reserve your spot at https://experiencesicily.com/saint-josephs-day-in-new-york-city/ #salemi #trapani #bread #ritualbread #altar #tavola #breadloaves #experiencesicily #sicily #sicilia #siciliabedda #italy #italia #sicilyvacation #sicilians_world #ig_sicily #igerssicilia #instasicilia #gf_italy #siculamenteDoc #sicily_tricolors #ig_visitsicily #Sicilia_PhotoGroup #smallgrouptours #traveltogether #authenticsicily #sicilytour #whatsicilyis (at Salemi) https://www.instagram.com/p/B9OBL4hFXDv/?igshid=3cl9teoijnv8

Ritual bread making in honor of Saint Joseph (San Giuseppe) in Salemi. NB I'll be on retreat this weekend. Posts will resume on Monday. #bread #pane #ritualbread #panerituale #salemi #trapani #saintjosephsday #stjosephsday #festadisangiuseppe #experiencesicily #sicily #sicilia #siciliabedda #italy #italia #sicilyvacation #sicilians_world #ig_sicily #igerssicilia #instasicilia #gf_italy #siculamenteDoc #sicily_tricolors #ig_visitsicily #Sicilia_PhotoGroup #smallgrouptours #traveltogether #authenticsicily #smallgrouptoursitaly (at Salemi) https://www.instagram.com/p/B1gUsZdl4QU/?igshid=ec5ssj37hy9r

Bread loaves created in the form of a circle or doughnut may be found all over Sicily. The name, "cuddura" bread (also called cuddureddi), comes from the ancient Greek word kollura (kuddura), which means crown. The loaves are shaped as such so that shepherds and those working in the grain fields and vineyards could carry them comfortably on a stick while they moved throughout their day, but not only... During Easter, it is typical to prepare it with an egg baked into it. At Christmas, it's made with dried fig paste. Such loaves are also associated with many festivals celebrating saints in Sicily, yet its shape and symbolism date back to pre-Christian times when it was baked for rituals celebrating the abundance of cereals and therefore, bread. It was created to recognize the gifts of the mother goddess Demeter (Greek) (or Ceres (Roman)), the goddess of the grain, harvest, and female fertility. Today, the circular shape represents the Madonna, in addition to abundance. You'll see cuddura loaves pervading feasts for San Giuseppe (for example, in Salemi, where I photographed this loaf), Il Santissimo Crocifisso in Calatafimi, and for Gli Archi di Pasqua currently happening in San Biagio Platani. #bread #pane #ritualbread #panerituale #cuddura #cuddureddi #kollura #demeter #demetre #divinefeminine #salemi #trapani #sanbiagioplatani #archidipasqua #experiencesicily #sicily #sicilia #siciliabedda #italy #italia #sicilyvacation #sicilians_world #ig_sicily #igerssicilia #instasicilia #gf_italy #siculamenteDoc #sicily_tricolors #ig_visitsicily #Sicilia_PhotoGroup #smallgrouptours #traveltogether (at Kuddura) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bw-p8dnloMF/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=5rfez4w0c2vk