Just as in the USA, where Santa Claus brings gifts for good children on Christmas Eve…

Italy has a similar tradition.  Only the gifts arrive on Epiphany Eve, which is January 5.  And instead of Santa Claus, the gifts are delivered by an old and ugly woman who rides a broom.  La Befana is her name.

 

 

 

In popular folklore La Befana visits all the children of Italy on the eve of the Feast of the Epiphany to fill their shoes with candy and presents if they have been good good, or a lump of coal (or dark candy) if they have been bad.

Here’s a fun video to give you the flavor of the celebration:

 

I love one of the stories about La Befana and how she happens to be in the habit of delivering gifts to children on Epiphany Eve.

According to Italian folklore, La Befena was visited by the three Magi as they made their way to see the Christ Child.  They even invited her to go with them, but she said she couldn’t go because she had too much work to do.  Her work was house cleaning, especially sweeping the floors.

Later La Befana was filled with regret when she realized the magnitude of the event she had missed with her protestations of busy-ness (there is a lesson here all you busy people).  Her response was to bring candy and sweets to all the good children and she does this once a year as a sort of penance for having missed the big event of seeing the baby Jesus with the Magi.

Italian families will often leave out a small glass of wine and a few treats for La Befana to eat before she leaves their home, having dropped off her gifts for the children in the house.

La Befana 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.

I do hope La Befana leaves you a little something on Epiphany Eve, especially if Santa Claus forgot you for some reason!

Buona Befana a tutti!