Each country that celebrates Christmas has different and unique tastes, traditions and characters. In the case of Italy, there is a very particular tradition and character that you won't see in the context of many other Christmases; a witch. Something you probably associate with Hallowe'en instead, right? However, Befana (that's her name) is quite and important figure for children in Italy at Christmas. She is actually a good witch and kind to children and you can even meet her in local towns the way you might line up to see Santa Claus. There are places all over where you can visit her so just find a luxury villa in Tuscany this Christmas and pay a visit to this unique figure of Italian winter festivities!
Just who is this Befana? La Befana, whose name comes from the Roman dialect's pronunciation of the Italian "epifania" (or Epiphany), is a friendly witch who comes delivering gifts for the good children, and lumps of coal to the bad ones. The tale goes, that, long ago, the three wise men stopped into la Befana's house on their way to Bethlehem. The men were just seeking shelter and a meal for the night but she was such a nice hostess that they invited her to come with them to find the new born Jesus. The Befana declined their offer. Later, she changed her mind and packed up some toys that had belonged to her own child, who had died, and set out after them. She never caught up with the wise men, and instead, delivers her gifts to Italian children on the 5th of January, the night before Epiphany, to make up for it.
She is visualised as an old and ugly who flies on her broom and delivers presents in stockings hanging over the fireplace (sounds familiar!), coming down from the chimney and leaving coal instead of presents and sweets for badly behaved children. According to tradition, Befana wears a long dark dress, an apron with patch pockets, a shawl, a crooked hat and worn-out slippers. To foreigners she seems an odd mash-up of Hallowe'en and Christmas traditions! In fact, until recently, Christmas was exclusively a family feast and children only received gifts on epiphany, not Christmas day. In return for her gifts and to help sustain her, the children leave out a bottle of wine, or a piece of salame for la Befana.
You can meet her all over the place but she is known to visit Arezzo's Palasport “Le Caselle”, in the city centre, Subbiano and Terranuova Bracciolini, Florence's S. Piero A Sieve and Piazza Duomo, Grosseto's Provincial Headquarters and Hospital and more! If you and your kids are in Tuscany this Christmas be sure to introduce them to the original good witch!
She is visualised as an old and ugly who flies on her broom and delivers presents in stockings hanging over the fireplace (sounds familiar!), coming down from the chimney and leaving coal instead of presents and sweets for badly behaved children. According to tradition, Befana wears a long dark dress, an apron with patch pockets, a shawl, a crooked hat and worn-out slippers. To foreigners she seems an odd mash-up of Hallowe'en and Christmas traditions! In fact, until recently, Christmas was exclusively a family feast and children only received gifts on epiphany, not Christmas day. In return for her gifts and to help sustain her, the children leave out a bottle of wine, or a piece of salame for la Befana.
You can meet her all over the place but she is known to visit Arezzo's Palasport “Le Caselle”, in the city centre, Subbiano and Terranuova Bracciolini, Florence's S. Piero A Sieve and Piazza Duomo, Grosseto's Provincial Headquarters and Hospital and more! If you and your kids are in Tuscany this Christmas be sure to introduce them to the original good witch!
Photo credit: ho visto nina volare / CC BY-SA 2.0
