Mar 18
Encenalls de Sant Josep. Photos from the bakery El Forn de'n Pep (Manresa).
March 19th is Saint Joseph's Day. In many parts of Catalonia, today it's traditional to eat these delicious pastries called encenalls. They're a kind of cookie with vanilla and almonds, coated in chocolate. They can be found in bakeries in the days around this holiday.
"The word encenall means "wood shaving", the thin curly "The word encenall means "wood shaving", the thin curly "ribbons" made of wood that come off when a carpenter is working a piece of wood. According to religion, Saint Joseph was a carpenter, for this reason this pastry is typically eaten for his holiday.
Actual wood shaving. Photos from G S Haydon and iStock.