Hundreds of Befanas are present, swinging from the main tower. Traditionally it’s La Befana who brings gifts and candy (or lumps of coal) to put in children’s stockings, not on Christmas but on the eve of Epiphany.Although these days most children receive gifts on Christmas, it’s still a fun day of celebrations, festivals, and small gifts and sweets. The Befana is celebrated throughout all of Italy, and has become a national icon.

In Italy, La Befana is one of the best-known characters and a favorite of children. Her name may have come from the festival of Epiphany or … The figure of “la Befana” as we know it may have origins way older than those of the festivity, the Epifania, we usually associate her with.Her roots, it seems, have to be sought in pre-Christian times, and developped well into a tradition made of folklore and religious elements.

Unlike Santa, la Befana doesn’t take requests or wished but rather leaves sweets and, often, a small gift that can fit in the stocking.A fun fact about her: la Befana maintains her good housekeeping habits when she comes to you too. If you are religious, this is the day you celebrate the coming of the Wise Men to Bethlehem and you place their statuettes –usually along with that of a camel– into your Here comes one of my pindaric flights into childhood memories. Here is one of the versions: One of my favorite winter traditions is the celebration of A festivity dear to children and adults, it has ancient origins and a fantastic background story. The Befana is a Christmas witch that comes 12 days after Christmas on January 6. As a kid, One thing I never wondered about when I was a child was where the It came as a bit of surprise, years and years later, to find out that the old lady on a broomstick had very ancient origins indeed, and that she may be the vestige of a much older cult than that of the From this Celtic representation of a tired, yet thoughtful and bound-to-be-born-again Mother Nature,Something that many of us do not know, is that the figure of the She would fill our stockings with dried fruits, nuts, chestnuts and small oranges, or coal, if we had been particularly naughty. The infant Jesus was delighted, and he gave La Befana a gift in return; she would be the mother of every child in Italy. lib. Avid home swapper. Macaulay says, "Christianity conquered paganism, but paganism infected Christianity; the rites of the Pantheon passed into her 'worship, and the subtilties of the Academy into her creed.' She initially refused, but later had a change of heart and tried to find the manger. The modern day Befana is now celebrated throughout Italy. The celebration of the Epiphany began in the Eastern Church and included a celebration of Christ's birth. Upon hearing news of Jesus being born, she set out to see him, delusional that he was her son. Urbania is thought to be her official home. See more ideas about Christmas in italy, Holidays around the world, Italian christmas. The Legend of La Befana Ever wonder about the witch-like woman with a broomstick that you see in Christmas markets around Italy? Special treats on La Befana include sweet coal, small cookies called befanini and Befana cake - a cake with a large dried bean inside.