• People today bury statues, usually small, inexpensive ones, instead of medals. The size or cost of the statue doesn't matter, and has no relation to the size or cost of the property for sale.

• Bury the statue upside down in the yard of the property you are trying to sell. I've seen a couple of versions with it upright, but upside down is by far the most common.

• The location for the burial varies, but the most common is in the front of the property, facing the house. Some favor a particular corner, and many recommend putting it next to the "For Sale" sign.

• During the burial ceremony, recite a short heartfelt prayer requesting Joseph's intercession to sell your house. An example prayer would be:

Joseph of Nazareth, I beseech thee
to intercede on my behalf to help me
find a worthy buyer for my home.
I ask this in the holy name of Christ.
Amen

This is the most important part: pray. Pray for Saint Joe to intervene for you. You can find some written prayers for this part (some of which seem to threaten Joseph if he doesn't get to work!), but prayer from the heart, prayer that discusses your personal situation, is much, much better.

• Have faith.

• While some traditions say you should leave the statue in the ground after the sale, others say that once the house is sold, you dig up the statue and take it with you to the new home. The practice is very common in Italy. Once the house is sold, Joseph is "rewarded" by being dug up, set aright and set in a place of honor in the family's new home.

A symbol can also be a more or less conventional image (i.e. an icon), or a detail of an image, or even a pattern or color: for example, the olive branch in heraldry represents peace, the halo is a conventional symbol of sainthood in Christian imagery and tartans are symbols of Scottish clans. The imagery of the Christian church has various symbols associated with Saint Joseph.

• Bible
• branch
• carpenter's square
• carpenter's tools
• chalice
• cross
• hand tools
• infant Jesus
• ladder
• lamb
• lily
• monstrance
• old man holding a lily and a carpenter's tool such as a square
• old man holding the infant Jesus
• plane
• rod

In several forms of Christianity, a patron saint has special affinity for a trade or group. Patron saints can also be associated with geographical areas. Joseph is the patron saint of various things and places (refer to list below). Pope Pius IX proclaimed him the patron of the Universal Church on December 8, 1870.

against doubt, against hesitation, bursars, 
cabinetmakers, carpenters, Church,
confectioners, craftsmen, dying people,
emigrants, expectant mothers, families,
fathers, happy death, holy death,
house hunters, immigrants, interior souls,
laborers, married people, people in doubt,
people who fight Communism, pioneers,
pregnant women, unborn children,
protection of the Church, social justice,
travelers, Universal Church, Vatican II, 
working people, wheelwrights, Americas,
Austria, diocese of Baton Rouge, Louisiana,
Belgium, Bohemia, Canada, Carinthia,
diocese of Buffalo, New York, China,
diocese of Cheyenne, Wyoming,
Croatian people, Florence, Italy,
diocese of La Crosse, Wisconsin,
archdiocse of Louisville, Kentucky
diocese of Manchester, New Hampshire,
Mexico, New France, New World, Peru,
diocese of Nashville, Tennessee,
Oblates of St. Joseph, Sicily, Viet Name,
diocese of San Jose, California, 
diocese of Sioux Falls, South Dakota,
Styria, Austria, Turin, Italy, Tyrol, Austria, diocese of Wheeling-Charleston, West Virginia

Guardian of virgins, and holy father Joseph, to whose faithful custody Christ Jesus, Innocence itself, and Mary, Virgin of virgins, were committed; I pray insistently and beseech you by these dear pledges, Jesus and Mary, that being preserved from all uncleanness, I may with spotless mind, pure heart, and chaste body, ever most chastely serve Jesus and Mary all the days of my life. Amen.

Throughout the Catholic Church, Saint Joseph has always been regarded as the family protector. Several centuries ago, a severe famine in Sicily caused considerable suffering and starvation. The peasant farmers turned in prayer to Saint Joseph for help. The famine soon ended, and in gratitude, the farmers honored Saint Joseph by filling an altar with their most prized possession-food. After paying homage to St. Joseph, they distributed the food to the less fortunate.

The altar tradition plays a major role in the veneration of St. Joseph and is the focus of the novena (nine days of prayer) before the actual feast day. The altars take on many shapes, some forming a cross while others occupy a corner table or an entire wall. Most of these altars are broken down before or shortly after the dinner, but I recall growing up that some altars became permanent displays. These permanent altars however, became overgrown with statues and crosses, flowers, oranges and lemons during St. Joseph’s Day. Other decorations found on the altars include candles, religious medals, rosaries, prayer cards, fava beans and loaves of bread. Much of the altar, including the citrus fruits and breads will be given away to guests when it is broken down.

The traditional foods served during St. Joseph’s Day are symbolic of both the legends associated with the saint and the very real struggles of the Sicilian peasantry. The fava bean plays a prominent role in the feast and can be seen on both altars and in the traditional pasta dish. Once considered food for animals, the hardy bean was not affected by the droughts and famines of Sicily, making it an invaluable food source to the peasants. Wild fennel and chickpeas were also some of the few plants available to these poor people and thus became important parts of the Sicilian diet. These are just some of the simple and rustic ingredients that go into the unique Pasta di San Giuseppe.

In America, the custom of the Saint Joseph's Table has become like a giant pot luck dinner. Because Saint Joseph's Feast falls during the Lenten season, in pre-Vatican II times the foods at the celebration consisted of traditional meatless dishes such as fruit and vegetables, pasta, fish and varieties for bread and pastries (all dishes are welcome at our feast). Children are an important part of this celebration. It's customary to have three children represent the Holy Family. The priest blesses the food, the "Holy Family" is served first, and then everyone enjoys the feast. A Saint Joseph's Table has been a tradition for many years.

The Goodie Bag
Visitors to St. Joseph Altars are given small paper bags containing a few blessed items from the Altar. The bags usually contain a holy card and a small medal. Various cookies or small breads may also be in the bag. The most interesting item found in the goodie bag is the fava bean. In Sicily, the fava was fodder for cattle. During a great famine the people resorted to eating them to survive. They were considered lucky to have favas to eat, hence the fava bean is also known as a "lucky bean." Some believe that the pantry that contains a fava bean will never be bare. The fava, or lucky bean, serves as a token of the Altar - a reminder of God's provisions through the intercession of St. Joseph.

**Taken from the Virtual St. Joseph Altar (http://www.thankevann.com/stjoseph)

O St. Joseph whose protection is so great, so stron, so prompt before the Throne of God, I place in you all my interests and desires.
O St. Joseph do assist me by your powerful intercession and obtain for me from your Divine Son all spiritual blessings through Jesus Christ, Our Lord; so that having engaged here below your Heavenly power I may offer my Thanksgiving and Homage to the Most Loving of Fathers.
O St. Joseph, I never weary contemplating you and Jesus asleep in your arms. I dare not approach while He reposes near your heart.
Press Him in my name and kiss His fine Head for me, and ask Him to return the kiss when I draw my dying breath.
St. Joseph, Patron of departing souls, pray for us. Amen.
Say for nine consectutive mornings for anything you may desire. It has seldom been known to fail.

Some sources claim this prayer was found in the fifteenth year of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. In 1505 it was sent from the Pope to Emperor Charles when he was going into battle. Whoever shall read this prayer or hear it or keep it about themselves shall never die a sudden death, nor be drowned, nor shall poison take effect of them; neither shall they fall into the hands of the enemy, nor shall be burned in any fire, nor shall be overpowered in battle.

(A devotion made popular by Pope Francis)

O Saint Joseph, you are a man greatly favored by the Most High.
The angel of the Lord appeared
to you in dreams, while you slept,
to warn you and guide you as you cared for the Holy Family.
You were both silent and strong,
a loyal and courageous protector.
Dear Saint Joseph,
as you rest in the Lord,
confident of His absolute power
and goodness, look upon me.
Please take my need into your heart, dream of it, and present it to your Son.
  (mention your request)
Help me then, good Saint Joseph,
to hear the voice of God,
to arise, and act with love.
I praise and thank God with joy.
Saint Joseph, I love you. Amen.

"I have great love for Saint Joseph, because he is a man
of silence and strength.
On my table I have an image
of Saint Joseph sleeping.
Even when he is asleep,
he is taking care of the Church!"   

-Pope Francis

While You Were Sleeping: St. Joseph,
Pope Francis & A Good Night's Rest

This beautiful devotion began almost 400 years ago in the small town of Antwerp, Belgium. An Augustinian nun named Sr. Elizabeth was suffering from a mysterious and painful illness; doctors admitted that it would most likely lead to her death. Having a special devotion to St. Joseph, she asked that a cord be blessed in his honor. She wrapped this cord around her waist. A few days later, her pain disappeared while she was praying for St. Joseph’s intercession. Multiple doctors—including a Protestant doctor—accessed her case and proclaimed her cure to be miraculous.

Almost 200 years later, the miracle was publicized—particularly in Verona, Italy—and in March of 1842, this devotional cord was adopted by a hospital in Verona and distributed to its patients. On September 19, 1859, the devotion of St. Joseph’s cord was officially adopted; a blessing formula created; indulgences added by Pope Pius IX; and widespread private use permitted.

The White Cord of St Joseph is piously used not only as a remedy against physical ailments, but as a support in living the virtues of chastity and purity of heart.

Graces Associated with the Cord
There are five primary graces attached to the wearing of the cord and the pious recitation of the corresponding prayers:

• St. Joseph's special protection
• Purity of soul
• The grace of chastity
• Final perseverance
• Particular assistance at the hour of death

Using the Devotional
The following is recommended for this devotional:

The Cord of St. Joseph should be of thread or cotton, ending at one extremity in seven knots, indicative of the Seven Joys and Sorrows of St. Joseph. It is worn as a girdle for purity or chastity and humility, and around the shoulders for obedience. It ought to be blessed by a priest with the faculties for this blessing. Pius IX approved a special formula for the blessing of the cord of St. Joseph. 

The daily commitments associated with the devotion are to pray seven Glory Be's along with a prayer to St. Joseph for Purity:

O GUARDIAN of Virgins
and holy Father St. Joseph,
into whose faithful
keeping were entrusted
Christ Jesus, Innocence Itself,
and Mary, Virgin of virgins,
I pray and beseech thee
by these dear pledges,
Jesus and Mary, that,
being preserved from all uncleanness,
I may with spotless mind,
pure heart and chaste body,
ever serve Jesus and Mary most chastely all the days of my life.
Amen.

We are also encouraged to meditate on St. Joseph’s Seven Joys and Sorrows, praying an Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be after each Joy and Sorrow.

Remember, O most chaste spouse of the Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who implored your help and sought your intercession was left unassisted.
Full of confidence in your power I fly unto you and beg your protection. Despise not O Guardian of the Redeemer my humble supplicaton, but in your bounty, hear and answer me. Amen.