Zeppole (singular Zeppoli) or St. Joseph's Day Cakes are a form of light, fried doughnuts in Neapolitan Italian cuisine. They are slightly larger than a doughnut hole, deep-fried, and may be topped with powdered sugar or filled with custard, jelly, or cannoli filling. Their consistency ranges from light and puffy to bread- or pasta-like. Originally, the cakes were dipped in honey and cinnamon. Naples (Italian Napoli, Neapolitan Napule, from Greek Νέα Πόλις - Néa Pólis - meaning New City; see also List of traditional Greek place names) is the largest city in southern Italy and capital of Campania Region and the Province of Naples. ... Italian cuisine is characterized by its flexibility, its range of ingredients and its many regional variations. ... Cannoli siciliani - An Italian pastry dessert consisting of a fried pasta tube-shaped shell filled with a sweet, creamy filling, commonly containing ricotta cheese, vanilla and chocolate or chocolate chips. ... French bread has a somewhat rigid crust. ... Pasta is a type of dough made from flour, water, and sometimes eggs, which is then flattened, formed into various shapes, and boiled prior to consumption. ... A cake is a form of food, usually sweet, often baked. ... Honey honey comb A capped frame of honeycomb Honey is a sweet and viscous fluid produced by bees and other insects from the nectar of flowers. ... Binomial name Cinnamomum verum J.Presl Cassia (Indonesian cinnamon) is also commonly called (and sometimes sold as) cinnamon. ...

It is believed that the tradition of consuming Zeppole on Saint Joseph's Day (March 19) began during the Middle Ages in Sicily. Supposedly, there was a severe drought, and the people prayed for their patron saint, St. Joseph (sometimes referred to as San Giuseppe), 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. On the 19th of March, in cities such as Naples and Sicily, these little cakes are sold on many streets, and are sometimes gifts. Saint Josephs Day is marked in some branches of Christianity in honor of Saint Joseph, spouse of Mary and foster-father of Jesus. ... March 19 is the 78th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (79th in leap years). ... The Middle Ages formed the middle period in a traditional schematic division of European history into three ages: the classical civilization of Antiquity, the Middle Ages, and modern times, beginning with the Renaissance. ... Sicilian disambiguates here; see also Sicilian language or Sicilian Defence. ... Saint Joseph, also referred to as Joseph the Betrothed and as Joseph of Nazareth, was the foster-father of Jesus, according to the New Testament (Matthew 1:16; Luke 3:23). ... Sicilian disambiguates here; see also Sicilian language or Sicilian Defence. ... Naples (Italian Napoli, Neapolitan Napule, from Greek Νέα Πόλις - Néa Pólis - meaning New City; see also List of traditional Greek place names) is the largest city in southern Italy and capital of Campania Region and the Province of Naples. ... Sicilian disambiguates here; see also Sicilian language or Sicilian Defence. ...

Upon a typical St. Joseph's Day altar people place flowers, limes, candles, wine, specially prepared cakes, and Zeppole; because the feast occurs during lent, no meat is allowed on the celebration table. An ancient Roman altar An altar is any structure upon which sacrifices or other offerings are offered for religious purposes. ... Look up Lent in Wiktionary, the free dictionary In Western Christianity, Lent is the period before the Christian holy day of Easter. ...