Father's Day: Saint Joseph's Sfincia

The celebration of 19 March in honour of Saint Joseph is a very important feast day in Sicily, not only because it celebrates the father, but also because this feast day represents an important moment in the religious and cultural life of the island. Saint Joseph is the patron saint of numerous municipalities and is among the most loved and venerated saints in the entire region, as his figure is strongly linked to the island's popular faith. This religious feast is very popular on the island, especially in the towns of Palermo and Trapani, where processions and celebrations in honour of the saint are organised every year.

In Sicilian tradition, 19 March is closely linked to a typical dessert that cannot be missing from tables: Sfincia di San Giuseppe, a delicious soft pancake of Palermo origin, covered with a delicate ricotta cream and garnished with chocolate chips, chopped pistachios, cherries and candied orange peel.

The Sfincia di San Giuseppe has a very ancient origin, traceable in both the Bible and the Koran. Its name in Sicilian, 'spincia', derives from the Arabic 'isfanǧ', meaning 'sponge', a name that refers to the irregular shape of the cake, which resembles that of a sponge. Initially, the Sfincia was a soft pancake, an evolution of Arab cakes and breads fried in oil. Thanks to the skill of the nuns of the Stigmata di San Francesco monastery, located in Palermo, the fritter was transformed into a delicious and tasty dessert. The nuns handed down the recipe to the Palermo confectioners, who decided to dedicate the cake to St Joseph, father of Jesus Christ, a humble and good man, just like the ingredients used in the preparation of the Sfincia.

Sfincia di San Giuseppe is a traditional Sicilian sweet. Its history and origins are ancient, but its delicate flavour and soft texture continue to win over the palate of those who taste it.