Saint Patrick may be the more celebrated saint, but Saint Joseph is just as important to the Christian lexicon -- if not moreso. So, with his feast day being tomorrow, why do his celebrations fly under the radar? 

Saint Joseph is, of course, the husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and the step-father of Jesus of Nazareth. Upon a typical St. Joseph's Day altar, people place flowers, limes, candles, wine, fava beans, specially prepared cakes, breads, and cookies (as well as other meatless dishes), and zeppole. Foods are traditionally served containing bread crumbs to represent saw dust since St. Joseph was a carpenter. Because the feast occurs during Lent, traditionally no meat was allowed on the celebration table. The altar usually has three tiers, to represent the trinity. 

According to KansasCity.com, many people in Kansas City and New Orleans erect St. Joseph altars. Because his feast day falls during Lent, it's speculated that this is the reason his "day" isn't as well known as Saint Patrick's Day.

In Sicily, where St. Joseph is regarded by many as their Patron, and in many Italian-American communities, thanks are given to St. Joseph ("San Giuseppe" in Italian) for preventing a famine in Sicily during the Middle Ages.

According to legend, there was a severe drought at the time, and the people prayed for their patron saint to bring them rain. They promised that if he answered their prayers, they would prepare a large feast to honor him. The rain did come, and the people of Sicily prepared a large banquet for their patron saint. The fava bean was the crop which saved the population from starvation and is a traditional part of St. Joseph's Day altars and traditions. Giving food to the needy is a St. Joseph's Day custom. In some communities it is traditional to wear red clothing and eat a Neopolitan pastry known as a Zeppole (created in 1840 by Don Pasquale Pinatauro in Napoli) on St. Joseph's Day.