St. Joseph's Day

March 19 is Saint Joseph’s Day.  It is a solemnity in the Roman Catholic Church and celebrated as well as a feast by the Anglicans and Lutherans.  It is also father’s day for Spain, Portugal and Italy.

An interesting occurrence during St. Joseph’s is the “miracle of the swallows” at San Juan Capistrano, Southern California, where a whole flock of cliff swallows return from their winter vacation at Goya, Corrientes in Argentina.  They return to rebuild their mud nests months at the walls of the old stone church.  This event is celebrated each year.  The Mission Bells ring as the little birds wing their way back to the most famous Mission in California, the village of San Juan Capistrano takes on a fiesta air.

“People from all around the world come to the town of San Juan Capistrano to share in the rich tradition that defines St. Joseph’s Day at Mission San Juan Capistrano,” said Mechelle Lawrence-Adams, Executive Director of the Mission.

“We are grateful for our swallows history as a means of welcoming the public and sharing this incredible historic resource with them and invite the public to take part in all that we have to offer – dances, entertainment, bell ringing, exhibits, and the opportunity to connect with family and friends.”

The swallows remain for the duration of spring and winter, feeding on insects, spiders, flies and worms in order to breed and to prepare for their journey back to Argentina come October 23, feast day of San Juan Capistrano.

Leon Rene wrote the song “When the Swallows Come Back to Capistrano” which was recorded by The Ink Spots, Guy Lombardo, Glenn Miller and Pat Boone.