La Befana

Today was the day of La Befana.

There are different legends about her...

One of these, says that there was an old woman who was asked by the three kings about the road to Bethlehem. She indicated the road and asked the three kings why they were looking for that place, and the three kings explained who they were looking for.

She decided to go with them, but she was late because she was looking for some candies for baby Jesus in her home, and when she came back outside the three kings were gone. She went to Bethlehem anyway to see this baby, but she didn’t know how to find him. So she began to give these candies to any child she met. And from that moment she was the one who brought candies to children.

My own two boys are thrilled at another chance for candies, and goodies after Christmas and the holiday for the New Year.

The Befana brings candy to good children, or coal to bad boys and girls. Sound familiar? In fact here in Italy, boys and girls don’t receive stockings from Santa Clause or even Babbo Natale (as he is better known here), but on January sixth they receive stockings full of these things from the Befana.

Last year I was amazed. The Befana looks like a scarey witch, (not in the above picture because I picked a cute one) who seems much more in keeping with a Halloween holiday, than anything to do with Christmas. But believe me, she is much adored and loved here.

So my two boys miss out on Christmas stockings, but they aren’t missing a thing. Even if we forgot the holiday with the Befana... the nonni would make sure that she stopped by our house with a couple big stockings of candy.

This year I managed to get with it a bit more, I am learning a whole new life after all. And according to the kids, what is not to love about the Befana? Hmmm....

An old woman bearing gifts or candy and stockings who flies on a broom? Or a jolly old man in red who flies by reindeer? Never let it be said that I am too old to adjust!