The Befana

Tuesday I didn't have to go to work....why you ask. Because Tuesday was the giorno of the Befana.

This is what I know about her.

She comes just after Christmas time dressed as a witch from Halloween. She functions in part like Santa Clause, bringing coal to bad kids. Or maybe it is good kids....I can't figure it out. Because the coal "carbone" that she brings is actually black dyed sugar chunks.

So I think either that Italian kids get judged twice once on the 25th by Santa Clause and then they have like a two week grace period to get good and fast. And then since they are in Italy and all the kids here are loved, they are not really punished but more rewarded for being bad.

I need to research this one sec.... Ok so after some research the old wise men visited baby Jesus in his Manger 2 weeks after he was born....and apparently Mary hadn't moved baby Jesus because he is pictures in the Manger WITH THE WISE MEN in all of the images of the Nativity I've ever seen. Ok so . Even though they were suppose to be following a star, they got lost on the way to Jesus. This could be for any number of reasons. Daylight, God was feeling tired that day, clouds etc. So they randomly ask and horrendously looking woman for directions. She doesn't want to go with them because she has housework.

A completely reasonable excuse for an old woman NOT to go with three strange men in search of a baby in the middle of the dessert. Especially when you are like 80 years old and can barley walk. Then she feels awful about this. Her guilty conscious keeping her up at night, until she finally decides to roam the earth until she find Jesus. Giving a toy to each child she passes in the hopes that one of them is him.

This also proves that retirement benefits in Bethlehem clearly surpassed those of today. I am not how sure how the coal fits it, or why she flies. OR WAIT A MINUTE, she flies on a BROOM because she wanted to stay in and clean the house. Jesus. This is getting darker and darker.Ok now I need to research the Salem witches, why we have Santa Clause and whether or not I need to dress up in a costume tomorrow.

I carved a tomato this hallowe’en but really I should be using it tonight to scare away the Befana.

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La Befana by Anthony Parente Related Articles Castagne Ceppo Christmas Eve Dinner Il Presepe --------------------------------------------------------------------------------The Legend of La BefanaPurchase a DVD or VHS La Befana is one of Italy's oldest and most celebrated legends. Each year on January 6 the children of Italy awaken in hopes that La Befana has made a visit to their house. This is a significant day to Italians because it marks the end of the Christmas season and the day that the three Wise Men arrived at the manger of the Christ child. Over the years the Epiphany has been a more celebrated holiday for the children of Italy than even Christmas. As legend has it the three Wise Men were in search of the Christ child when they decided to stop at a small house to ask for directions. Upon knocking, an old woman holding a broom opened the door slightly to see who was there. Standing at her doorstep were three colorfully dressed men who were in need of directions to find the Christ child. The old woman was unaware of who these three men were looking for and could not point them in the right direction. Prior to the three men leaving they kindly asked the old woman to join them on their journey. She declined because she had much housework to do. After they left she felt as though she had made a mistake and decided to go and catch up with the kind men. After many hours of searching she could not find them. Thinking of the opportunity she had missed the old woman stopped every child to give them a small treat in hopes that one was the Christ child. Each year on the eve of the Epiphany she sets out looking for the baby Jesus. She stops at each child's house to leave those who were good treats in their stockings and those who were bad a lump of coal.

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La Befana and Epiphany in ItalyBy Martha Bakerjian, About.comSee More About:la befanaepiphanyitalian holidaysjanuary festivalsjanuary in italySponsored LinksFamily Guide to ItalyResources and information for international families in Italywww.italiakids.comItaly Auto RentalCar rental deals to travel in Italy Most competitive price on the webwww.italyautorental.comUK ExpatriatesLiving in Italy Plan to pay no UK Inheritance taxwww.mjmurphyaccounts.comItaly AdsItaly TrainMaps of ItalyFlorence Italy TravelItaly CitiesItaly CuisineThe 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. Traditional Christmas holidays run from Christmas Eve through Epiphany although many Christmas events start on December 8, the Feast Day of the Immaculate Conception or Santa Lucia Day, December 13.La BefanaItaly's traditional celebration includes the tale of a white-haired 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 11th night, bringing gifts to children in hopes that she might find the Baby Jesus. Children hang their stockings on the evening of January 5 awaiting the visit of La Befana. La Befana FestivalsThe town of Urbania, in Le Marche region, holds a 4-day festival for La Befana from January 2-6. Children can meet La Befana in La Casa della Befana. This is one of the biggest celebrations for La Befana in Italy.The Befana races are held in Venice on January 6. Men dressed as La Befana race in boats on the Grand Canal.