Soon enough, if not already, fig cookies, lemons and fava beans will adorn pied St. Joseph Altars at local Catholic churches to celebrate the feast day of the saint. The tradition dates back to the Middle Ages, when the people of Sicily commemorated the end of a drought-caused famine. The islanders attributed the abundant rain and crops to prayers to St. Joseph, and a celebration grew into a tradition.

People would supply the altars with grains, fish, sweets, flowers, meatless Sicilian dishes and religious articles to give thanks for the intercession of St. Joseph. Sicilian immigrants brought the custom to Louisiana, and it is celebrated near St. Joseph's Day. "The Italian connection here in south Louisiana is why (the tradition) is so prevalent here. I think that culturally, for our area, it's significant," said Chris Redden, the pastoral assistant at St. Joseph's Cathedral in Baton Rouge.