La befana Italian Tradition - My Befana

Oct. 9, 2009 - PRLog -- The Befana at first glance is an old looking witch with a crooked nose. For those who are willing to look beyond this however, La Befana is a fantastic tradition.

La Befana

The Befana is an old looking witch with a difference. There are many stories of where she came from. There are the traditional stories, the legends, and the story that is told to the children. The main idea of the Befana is that on the day of the epiphany (6h January) children all over Italy will wake up, run down stairs and look below their fireplace. Many of you at this point will be shouting at your screen. No, they have not stolen Father Christmas! In Italy they still have Father Christmas, or “Babbo Natale’. However the lucky children in Italy also have the Befana.

Legend of La Befana at http://www.mybefana.it

The legend of the Befana starts many years ago.  On the night of the 5th of January the three kings (or the magi) were on their way to see the baby Jesus. After a few days they became lost and decided to ask for directions. They knocked at a door and an old lady answered. This lady was to become the Befana. The three kings asked La Befana if she knew the way to Jesus and if she could come with them to Bethlehem. The Befana was happy to give directions but did not want to go to Bethlehem as she had many chores to do at home.

Shortly after La Befana regretted not accompanying the three kings to Bethlehem. La Befana now flies around on her broom stick offering cakes and sweets to children in the hope that one of them will be the baby Jesus.

Tradition of La Befana

In Italy it is now traditional that the Befana on the night before the epiphany (6th of January) comes down the chimney and fills stockings with sweets and presents. Everybody in Italy knows the La Befana and even adults give little presents to each other.

My Befana

To learn more about the Befana and even write a letter you can see:
http://www.mybefana.it
http://www.mybefana.it/english/befana_home_en.html

Email: info@mybefana.it