Saint Joseph's Day 2028: date and countries

Dates by country

Saint Joseph's Day 2028 by country
Country	Date	Local name
Liechtenstein	Sun 19 Marweekend	Josefstag
Vatican City	Sun 19 Marweekend	San Giuseppe

What is Saint Joseph's Day?

Saint Joseph's Day honours Joseph, the husband of Mary and the foster father of Jesus, as described in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke. He is described as a carpenter from Nazareth and a righteous man who accepted his role in the life of Jesus. He is the patron saint of fathers, workers, carpenters and the universal Church, which Pope Pius IX declared in 1870. His feast is a holy day in several countries and in some religious orders. Joseph is mentioned only briefly in the Gospels, yet he has been a popular saint for centuries, with devotions in many countries and religious communities named for him.

The day has many local traditions. In Italy it is Father's Day, and families eat fried pastries called zeppole di San Giuseppe. In Spain, in the city of Valencia, the Fallas festival reaches its climax on the night of 19 March, when large satirical papier-mâché sculptures are burned in the streets. In Malta, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Austria and the Vatican, the day is observed as a feast, with a holiday status that varies. Many towns hold processions and markets in his honour, and in Italy there are bonfires in some regions on the eve of the feast.

Why it is observed

The feast of Joseph has been celebrated in the West since at least the Middle Ages, and it was included in the Roman calendar in 1479 under Pope Sixtus IV. The devotion grew in the seventeenth century, in countries such as Spain and Italy, where Joseph was made a patron of many places. In 1955 Pope Pius XII established a second feast, Saint Joseph the Worker, on 1 May. In Italy the day was a national public holiday until 1977, when several religious holidays were removed from the civil calendar, although it remains a popular tradition.

How the date is set

Saint Joseph's Day is fixed on 19 March. It falls in Lent, and when it clashes with Holy Week the church celebration is moved, though civil observance stays on 19 March.

How it is observed

Saint Joseph's Day is a public holiday in Liechtenstein, Vatican City and Malta, in parts of Switzerland and Spain, and in regional or local forms elsewhere, including parts of Austria. In Italy it is no longer a day off, though it is still celebrated as Father's Day. Because status differs by country and even by region, check the rules for the place you are in. Pay and time off depend on national law, the region and the contract. Opening hours and the rules on school closures also vary. Check opening times.

Questions

Good to know

When is Saint Joseph's Day in 2028?

Sunday, 19 March 2028 in all 2 countries that observe it (Liechtenstein, Vatican City).

Which countries observe Saint Joseph's Day?

In our coverage: Liechtenstein, Vatican City. Only holidays that apply across a whole country are counted.

Why is Saint Joseph's Day observed?

The feast of Joseph has been celebrated in the West since at least the Middle Ages, and it was included in the Roman calendar in 1479 under Pope Sixtus IV. The devotion grew in the seventeenth century, in countries such as Spain and Italy, where Joseph was made a patron of many places. In 1955 Pope Pius XII established a second feast, Saint Joseph the Worker, on 1 May. In Italy the day was a national public holiday until 1977, when several religious holidays were removed from the civil calendar, although it remains a popular tradition.

How is the date of Saint Joseph's Day set?

Saint Joseph's Day is fixed on 19 March. It falls in Lent, and when it clashes with Holy Week the church celebration is moved, though civil observance stays on 19 March.