The Feast of St. Joseph is a special day when you have the opportunity to celebrate the love your children have for their dad. However, you often work and therefore you have to take advantage of the free time that Dad has during this day.

Since we have known lockdown we give these carefree moments together with our loved ones even more value.

The spring weather of Salerno usually always comes to our rescue to make this day sweet and special and gives us great outdoor moments with our dads.

There are many ways in which this holiday can be lovingly celebrated, but promising them a day together in Salerno is really a must.

How to spend Father's Day

March 19 brings the Feast of St. Joseph. A holiday dedicated entirely to the dad in which each child, alone or with a little help from others in the family, looks for ideas to show all the love to their dad. All dads are hard workers so, not infrequently, it happens that they have to work even on their own holiday. When they have a day off and it is possible, it is nice to think of a trip to a park or an activity to do together outdoors but with the right ideas you can still make this day really special even at home.

Suggested destinations for our next trip together

Does your dad never have time on his hands? You need to think about the time before or after dad goes to work, a good idea might be to visit one of the parks in Salerno.

For example, in the city of Salerno, there is the beautiful Mercatello Park. This particular urban green space, enjoys a very central location and is perfect for any time of the day. A special lunch break where father and son can enjoy some time together.

Another beautiful park that we recommend is the lovely Salerno Municipal Villa for a walk in the green, just a few steps from the sea. In this villa, then, you can take your dad for a ride in the wonderful Minerva Garden, especially if he is a nature lover.

Having a little more free time on your hands, on the other hand, you might consider devoting the day to a cultural visit-perhaps your dad has never thought of visiting the Fratte Archaeological Park, so you can propose this destination for him to go and visit this archaeological park together.

Ideas for celebrating dad even at home

At the end of a hard day's work, then, dad comes home tired and surely hungry. We propose, therefore, that you prepare a nice dinner with his favorite dishes, which you can end with the typical Campanian Father's Day dessert: the mouthwatering zeppole di San Giuseppe.

Fried, baked, cocoa, there is something for everyone! Southern Italy's most beloved dessert, they are an easy gift to make or buy that your dad will surely enjoy.

Le zeppole originated in Roman times, when wheat fritters in the shape of a coiled snake, called serpula, from which the name is said to be derived. zeppola. Their story does not end there. They are attributed to St. Joseph since it is said in sacred scripture that the saint, while fleeing to Egypt, fed his family with pancakes, hence the relationship with the saint's feast day and on the occasion of March 19 the inevitable preparation of the dessert.

Let's look at the recipe for zeppole di San Giuseppe.

Ingredients for the dough

• 300 g of flour
• 6 eggs
• half a liter of water
• powdered sugar to taste
• 50 gr. butter

Ingredients for the cream

• 2 eggs
• 100 g sugar
• 80 g of flour
• 50 cl milk
• lemon zest to taste

Turn on the stove to medium heat and start heating the water with the butter and a pinch of salt. When the water is hot, pour in the sifted flour and stir until the mixture is smooth.

Turn off the heat and add the eggs, then mix and let stand.

In another bowl, process the sugar with the egg yolks and add the sifted flour to begin making the custard.

Finally, add the milk and the zest of one lemon as well.

When you have finished making the cream, turn the heat back on under the mixture and let it thicken, stirring constantly so that no lumps form.

At this point doughnuts can be formed using a pastry bag and placing them on small plates.

Fry zeppole one at a time, in hot oil until they turn a golden color.

In the middle fill them with custard and add a black cherry on top.

Preparing a mouthwatering dish is not the only way to celebrate, however, it must be said that DIY gifts are, for a parent, the best to receive.

Use this day to promise your dad that you will take time to discover the world with him-from home you can watch movies together, 1,000-piece puzzles that later become fantastic paintings, and more.

Use all your creativity to prepare a special greeting card, Or should we say good weather?

The gift will be original and unique because we will give him something he cannot buy anywhere, and we can use this card to write down things we too often forget to tell him.

The origins of Father's Day in Italy and America

Father's Day for the Catholic Church was proclaimed in 1871 and known as St. Joseph's Day celebrated on March 19, to honor the saint, patron saint of family fathers and patron of the universal Church. For the church, St. Joseph is in fact, according to church dogma, the putative father of Jesus and therefore a model for all fathers.

In America, on the other hand, it is celebrated on June 20 and originated in the 20th century: it was first celebrated in West Virginia. It was Mrs. Sonora Smart Dodd who wanted this holiday to be made official: the woman, inspired by a sermon on Mother's Day, organized the first American Father's Day on June 19, 1910. Not surprisingly, the holiday was celebrated in June because it was in that month that Mrs. Dodd's father's birthday fell.