01/03/2026
That time of year again La Befana!! She's a comin!!!
💚🤍❤️🇮🇹👍✌️
In Italian folklore, Befana is an old woman who delivers gifts to children throughout Italy on Epiphany Eve (the night of January 5) in a similar way to Sinterklaas or Santa Claus.
The character may have originated in central Italy, then spread as a tradition to the rest of Italy.
A popular belief is that her name derives from the Feast of Epiphany or in Italian, "La Festa dell'Epifania". Epiphania (Epiphany in English) is a Latin word with Greek origins. Epiphany means either the Feast of the Epiphany (January
"This Befana appears to be heir at law of a certain heathen goddess called Strenia, who presided over the new-year's gifts, 'Strenae,' from which, indeed, she derived her name.Her presents were of the same description as those of the Befana—figs, dates, and honey.Moreover her solemnities were vigorously opposed by the early Christians on account of their noisy, riotous, and licentious character".In popular folklore Befana visits all the children of Italy on the eve of the Feast of the Epiphany to fill their socks with candy and presents if they are good or a lump of coal or dark candy if they are bad. In many poorer parts of Italy and in particular rural Sicily, a stick in a stocking was placed instead of coal. Being a good housekeeper, many say she will sweep the floor before she leaves. To some the sweeping meant the sweeping away of the problems of the year.
The child's family typically leaves a small glass of wine and a plate with a few morsels of food, often regional or local, for the Befana.She is usually portrayed as an old lady riding a broomstick through the air wearing a black shawl and is covered in soot because she enters the children's houses through the chimney. She is often smiling and carries a bag or hamper filled with candy, gifts, or both.Christian legend had it that Befana was approached by the biblical magi, also known as the Three Wise Men (or the three kings) a few days before the birth of the Infant Jesus. They asked for directions to where the Son of God was, as they had seen his star in the sky, but she did not know. She provided them with shelter for a night, as she was considered the best housekeeper in the village, with the most pleasant home. The magi invited her to join them on the journey to find the baby Jesus, but she declined, stating she was too busy with her housework. Later, La Befana had a change of heart, and tried to search out the astrologers and Jesus. That night she was not able to find them, so to this day, La Befana is searching for the little baby. She leaves all the good children toys and candy (“caramelle”) or fruit, while the bad children get coal (“carbone”), onions or garlic. - And THAT, MY FRIENDS is "The Story Behind LA Befana & REMEMBER- YOU HEARD/SAW IT HEAR 1ST! 😀😉👍🇮🇹🍷 SALUTE A TUTTI!!
