For the last 11 years, the parishioners have constructed the an altar to honor the St. Joseph’s Feast Day at the parish hall at the Church of the Assumption in Franklin. Hazel Huffman and Verline Keenze said they were only two of more than 150 parishioners to help with the feast day for the patron saint of families, working men, social justice and the Church.

The tradition of building an altar dates back to the Middle Ages in gratitude to St. Joseph for answering the prayers and delivering the people of Sicily from a famine.

The altar is comprised of a variety of items from perishable foods such as bread, cakes and cookies to statues and holy candles.

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Keenze said her group baked 5000 fig cookies for the altar. “That’s not including all the other cookies like the cocoons that we baked,” Keenze said.

Loaves of bread baked into Christian shapes such as a cross, a chalice or a crown of thorns also adorn the altar. Some are baked with figs. One unique item is an Italian “Pignolatti”, which is a group of fried pastry balls joined together into the shape of a pine cone. This represents the pine cone that Jesus played with as a child.

Also, the table is balance on the left and right sides. There is two of everything, one for each side of the table.

A meatless spaghetti was served during the celebration. Keenze said “meatless meatballs” made from bread were served with the spaghetti.

Students from St. John Elementary in Franklin visited the altar and were able to sample some of the food items and take home items as well. One of the favorite items is the fava bean. It has become a symbol of good luck and it is said that one who carries a lucky fava bean will never be without coins.

Afterwards, the altar is broken down and the food items remaining are given to the poor.