Technically, my father's birthday is today. This is the day he was born. His legal birthday is Monday. I assume there was a mudslide or something that kept them from getting to town sooner to register his birth. Since he was born on St. Joseph's Day -- March 19 -- he was given the patron saint's name. From what I've read, back in the day southern Italians prayed to St. Joseph to save them from a famine. I guess St. Joseph did that with an abundant crop of fava beans so now they hold a feast in his honor. There is a special pastry you eat on St. Joseph's Day, Sfinge de San Giuseppe. It's basically a tasty doughnut with ricotta cheese filling. I have a photo of my father blowing out birthday candles and there is a plate of sfinge in the photo. I don't know why it's good luck to tug an ear, but we always did it to my father. It'sa tradition.
The Chef