As we approach the holiday season, countless celebrations make this dark and frigid time in New England brighter. For many, winter returns to a dull time after December, and many shift gears to look forward to spring. The post-Christmas blues is a shared feeling among many who celebrate, but for those who celebrate the arrival of La Befana, there is a little more holiday spirit left in the winter.
Throughout Italy and Italian communities in America, children wake up on January 5th to their socks filled with treats and smaller gifts from La Befana.
Who is La Befana?
La Befana is depicted as an old Italian woman living in a remote mountain. Other stories from Rome say she lives atop the roofs of the famous Piazza Navona. She wears a traditional outfit – wrapped in a shawl and rides a broom. She is considered a “good witch” as she is often seen carrying a basket full of treats and beaming, but if you try to see her while she is dropping off gifts you will receive a thump from her broom!
Why does La Befana give gifts to children?
The legend goes that on the evening of January 5th, while Befana was working sweeping in her cottage, she saw a bright star out her window. Determined, she continued cleaning, and later, the three wise men arrived at Befana’s door and asked for directions to see baby Jesus. She instructed them on how to see him and allowed them to stay the night in her cottage—and asked if she wanted to come on their journey to visit Jesus. She could not go with them to see Jesus as she insisted on finishing her housework. After some time passed, she ran after the three wise men to catch up and see Jesus, but she was too late. Legend says that La Befana is still looking for the baby she never got to meet, and along her journey, she gives small gifts to well-behaved children and coal, onions, and garlic to naughty children.
Why is La Befana Important?
La Befana is different from all the other legends of gift-givers around holidays as she is human. She is not rich; she is a poor Italian woman. Children worldwide can see qualities of La Befana similar to those of their grandmothers or older family members. She is very relatable and tangible as children see examples of her throughout their day-to-day lives. To Christians, her arrival is a celebration of Epiphany, when the three wise men visit baby Jesus. She shows children the importance of hard work and motivates them to behave well. She does not promise large gifts; for instance, it is standard for children to receive clementine oranges as a gift. This holiday is very dear to Italians, as it was celebrated more than Christmas up until recently. There are multiple feasts in Italy celebrating January 6th, as the Feast of the Epiphany is an Italian national holiday.
So, this January 5th, leave out your socks, and you may be surprised by what will greet you in the morning!
