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Christmas that is at least not in Italy. Tomorrow is January 6th, the 12th day of Christmas and the Feast of the Epiphany, when the Three Wise Men brought gifts to the baby Jesus. In Italy it is a festa nazionale, an extension of the Christmas holidays with celebrations and gift giving that rivals Dec 25th in the States. But instead of Santa Claus bringing toys to good little girls and boys, in Italy La Befana, the Christmas witch, flies through the air on her broom delivering toys and sweets to multicolored Epiphany stockings. |
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La Befana, the Christmas Witch
The Italian Befana is about as far removed from the Wicked Witch of the West as you can get. La Befana is more like a Mother Goose character with a nursery rhyme personality dressed in colorful tatters and rags with a big red nose and a slight hunch.
Legend has it that on the 12th night of Christmas (January 5th) the Three Wise Men met an an old peasant woman and asked her to join them in search of the baby Jesus. She declined, stating she had too much housework to do. She later changed her mind and went looking for the Three Wise Men and the baby but was unable to find them. Every year, on the eve of the Epiphany La Befana travels on her magic broom, to every house in Italy in search of the baby Jesus bearing gifts. Climbing down the chimneys she brings caramele (candy) or fruit to the children that were good and carbone (coal), onions or garlic to the children that were naughty. |
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Keep the Spirit of Christmas
Italians are always looking for a way to extend a party. They look back to the legends and ancient traditions of their holiday celebrations as a reaffirmation of life, setting aside the darkness and the sadness of the past year in hope of happiness in the future. Italians do this very well. Us, not so much. We fill our days and weeks before Christmas with clamor and clutter and complain about how much we have to do, with an enormous sign of relief when Christmas is over.
Let's not be so quick to let Christmas go. The Italian inspired tradition of La Befana reminds us that once something is lost it may be difficult to find. Take time for your family, your friends and yourself in the coming year and keep the spirit of Christmas alive.
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Tanti auguri
Best Wishes for the New Year from Cositutti
Pamela Marasco
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