Rhode Island celebrates Saint Joseph’s Day traditions and cuisine

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — Wednesday is Saint Joseph’s Day, a big celebration in Italian culture, and here in Rhode Island, that means one thing: zeppole.

Federal Hill bakeries will be buzzing as Rhode Islanders line up for zeppole today, a cream-filled pastry that’s a staple of Saint Joseph’s Day.

The holiday honors the patron saint who, legend says, saved Sicilians from a devastating drought.

Zeppole here aren’t just fried dough, they’re baked pate a choux pastries, filled with rich, custard-like cream and topped with powdered sugar and a maraschino cherry.

In a state with one of the largest Italian populations in the country, it’s no surprise bakeries like Borelli’s and Antonio’s are cranking out thousands.

The celebration goes beyond just Wednesday, as Saint Joseph is also honored during Federal Hill’s summer festival with a procession and living rosary.

For right now, it’s all about the zeppole.