The Feast of the Epiphany, celebrated January 6 with a national holiday in Italy, and the tradition of La Befana are a big part of Italian Christmas celebrations. Epiphany commemorates the 12th day of Christmas when the three Wise Men arrived at the manger bearing gifts for Baby Jesus.
Italy's traditional celebration includes the tale of a white-haired good witch known as La Befana who arrives on her broomstick during the night of January 5 and fills the stockings with toys and sweets for the good children and lumps of coal for the bad ones.
According to the legend, the night before the Wise Men arrived at the manger they stopped at the shack of an old woman to ask directions. They invited her to come along but she replied that she was too busy. Then a shepherd asked her to join him but again she refused.
Later that night, she saw a great light in the sky and decided to join the Wise Men and the shepherd bearing gifts that had belonged to her child who had died. She got lost and never found the manger.
Now La Befana flies around on her broomstick each year on the 12th night, bringing small gifts (as she’s old and poor) to children in hopes that she might find the Baby Jesus. Italian children hang their stockings on the evening of January 5th awaiting the visit of La Befana.
My kids did hang their stockings tonight as La Befana usually comes and visits them here in Yorkshire as well. Will they find some little gifts tomorrow as well? Just wait and see.
14 comments:
Really interesting. Here in the states the stockings are all back in the attic. Too bad for us. Enjoy the feast!
Ciao Antonella,
bellissimi i disegni sono opera di sicuri futuri artisti.
Ti ringrazio della visita e per rispondere al tuo commento sulla Galaverna ti cito Il Nuovo Zingarelli: "Rivestimento di ghiaccio su oggetti al suolo esposti al vento, costituito da granuli provenienti da rapido congelamento di piccolissime goccioline d'acqua sopraffuse, Brinata molto intensa"
Insomma il frutto di nebbia e gelo.
Se la parola รจ riportata sullo Zingarelli penso di poter dire che sia una parola Italiana.
Alla prossima.
More gifts? Cool! If you were still a kid, that is :D
Although we know it officially as the Feast of the Epiphany, most Filipinos just call this day "Three Kings Day." The Mass for today was said last Sunday though, and today's just a regular day in Catholic institutions. It marks the end of our Christmas season, so I'll be putting down and storing our decorations this weekend. Until next year…
Happy Three Kings Day, Antonella!
What a lovely tradition. Hope your kids are pleased with their goodies.
Thanks for the history lesson, very interesting, I celebrated something similar to this in France last year. Hope all like their New Year gifts.
Take care
Yasmin
xx
Ciao! There's an award waiting for you over at my place!
I didn't know about that tradition, but think it sounds really lovely. Sorry I didn't let you know about coming to York, it was only a fleeting visit, just over a day really. But do get in touch when you come up to Glasgow, for sure :)
I love learning about the variations on festivals at this time of the year. They are all similar yet all so different. What did La Befana bring?
That is interesting. I've now learned I'm missing out of some gifts. Can't wait to see what they get.
Take care, Chrissie
Thanks to everybody. Befana Day was nice in spite of the kids returning to school. They were happy of their small presents. La Befana is only a poor old lady and can only afford small gifts, ie. fruits, chocolate. They also received a couple of calendars, slippers and a dvd. I did not get anything, as im my house I AM the Befana! (in the colloquial Italian language, we call "befane" old grumpy ladies)
Cheerio!
PS The 3 hanging stockings were one for my son, one for my daughter and the 3rd one for Lilly the hamster!!!
Hey there!! Sorry it took me so long to get back to you. i finally got you on my blogs I love list....because well I love your blog!!!
Thanks for all your great comments.
xoxo
ym
What a delightful tale. You are teaching us so much.
Lovely tradition - and Italian children are very lucky with Santa Lucia and La Befana as well as Father Christmas! I am pleased to hear that La Befana is quite poor though - I should think many parents are feeling the same way by the end of all the celebrations! xx
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