What is the meaning of La Befana?
What is the meaning of La Befana?
In Italian folklore, La Befana is a witch who brings good children treats on the morning of the Epiphany, January 6. But if you were bad, look out – you may wake up to a lump of coal.
What is the story of La Befana?
Befana is said to be an old woman and many refer to her as a witch, who visits all the children in Italy on the eve of the Epiphany, celebrated on January 6. She fills the children’s stockings full of either candy or coal, depending on their behaviour the year before.
How do you celebrate La Befana?
The arrival of la Befana is celebrated with traditional Italian foods such as panettone and marks the end of the long and festive holiday season in Italy. In honor of the Three Wise Men, Italians go to church and enjoy spending the day with family.
What does La Befana do on Christmas?
La Befana – The Good Witch of Christmas Befana is not the “bad witch”, who lures unwitting children like Hansel and Gretel into her cottage and then devours them. Most often, Befana is seen smiling while carrying a basket heaped with goodies.
Why do they burn La Befana?
The feast of this fairy-tale old lady, so much beloved and feared by Italian children, takes origin from the “old lady” which was burned in the squares to celebrate the end of the year, a symbol of time cycles always ending and beginning again.
Why is La Befana important?
The Epiphany feast, known as La Befana, is an important part of the Christmas festivities in Italy. La Befana is believed to be searching for baby Jesus, hence why she bears gifts for children. Many cities and towns in Italy organize festivities and parades to celebrate Epiphany on January 6.
How old is Befana?
The figure of La Befana has been an Italian Christmas tradition, long before Babbo Natale (Santa Claus) made his way into the bel paese culture. Most sources say that the myth of La Befana goes back to the 13th century.
How is January 6th celebrated in Italy?
Feast of the Epiphany
On January 6th, Italians celebrate the Feast of the Epiphany with a national public holiday. Epiphany marks the end of the Christmas period and commemorates the presentation of the infant Jesus to the Magi, or three wise men.
Which country has the Christmas Witch?
Italy
Only in Italy do the witches bring gifts to children. That’s La Befana, a broom-flying, kindly witch who effectively takes over from Santa–in Italy, “Babbo Natale”—about two weeks after Christmas on Epiphany to deliver gifts to the good, and ash to the bad.
What is Santa Claus called in Italy?
Babbo Natale
Italian children call Santa Claus ‘Babbo Natale’. He is becoming more popular in Italy for gift giving on Christmas Day but La Befana, the old woman who delivers gifts on Epiphany on 6th January, is still more common.
Is La Befana Pagan?
Italy’s Pagan Santa Claus: The Story of La Befana, the Christmas Witch.
What does La Befana wear?
La Befana is an old woman dressed in long skirts and woolen shawls, often ugly with a wart on her nose, flying on a broomstick just like witches do, bringing gifts to the children the night before January 6th.
Where did the name La Befana come from?
She often smiles and carries a sack full of candies and gifts. As everyone knows, in Italian folklore, La Befana brings presents to the good children on the morning of Epiphany, January 6. The name La Befana originates from the Greek word Epifania, the Italian name for the religious festival of the Epiphany.
How is Befana the Italian Santa Claus portrayed?
Befana is portrayed as a hooded old hag, similar to the type of witches we see during Halloween, covered in soot (she enters homes through the chimney) and rides a broom. She carries a bag full of candy and is said to be the best house keeper in all the land due to her habit of sweeping the houses of the children she visits before she leaves.
What did Befana do on the eve of Epiphany?
Befana is said to be an old woman and many refer to her as a witch, who visits all the children in Italy on the eve of the Epiphany, celebrated on January 6. She fills the children’s stockings full of either candy or coal, depending on their behaviour the year before.
What does La Befana bring on the 5th of January?
La Befana ( la = the) is an old witch who flies around Italy on the Eve of Epiphany (January 5th) bringing sweets and gifts to good children and coal, onion and garlic to naughty children. La Befana porta regali ai bambini buoni e carbone ai bambini cattivi. The Befana brings gifts to good children and coal to naughty children.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_6jXKOnPXjU