Here comes the Epiphany, the old lady so loved by children! Toys, sweets, chocolates – not forgetting coal – will fill the stockings hanging on the chimneys, while the Befana will fly over the roofs with her broom.
As the traditional nursery rhyme reminds us: “The Befana comes at night with her shoes all broken, she crosses all the roofs carrying dolls and confetti. On her shoulders she has many bags and places them on the chimneys, she smilingly takes out goodies and gifts for the children."
The Origins of the Befana: Between Myths and Tradition
The story of the Befana has very ancient roots, which are rooted in magical and pagan traditions linked to the seasonal cycles of agriculture. In ancient times, it was believed that the twelfth night after the winter solstice represented the death and rebirth of nature, an event celebrated through the figure of Mother Nature. The Befana, therefore, can be seen as a representation of this rebirth, a symbol of purification and hope for future harvests. During the Roman era, the Befana was considered a magical female figure who flew at night over newly sown fields, to propitiate fertility.
The famous broom on which she flew represented purification from evil spirits and prepared the land for the new growing season. Some associate the figure of Befana with Diana, the Roman goddess of hunting and vegetation, who rode across the night sky with her entourage. Later, during the Middle Ages, these figures became associated with witches. With the advent of Christianity in the 4th century AD, the Church sought to integrate these pagan beliefs into its own tradition. Thus, Befana became a more friendly and welcoming figure, a smiling and affectionate old lady who rides a broomstick not to bring misfortune, but to deliver sweets and gifts.
The Befana and the Three Wise Men: related figures
The figure of Befana is closely linked to that of the Three Wise Men. According to legend, Balthazar, Gaspar and Melchior, during their long journey to Bethlehem, got lost and asked an old woman for directions. She showed them the way, and the Three Wise Men invited her to join them, but she refused. After they passed by, the old woman regretted not having followed them and decided to prepare a lot of sweets to look for them. Unable to find them, she began to knock on all the doors, giving sweets to every child in the hope of meeting Baby Jesus.
The Befana in Italy
In Italy, the feast of the Befana has always been an important celebration, both religious and secular. Although for a certain period it had fallen into the background, today the Befana has regained its space. This return of the Befana is linked to the rediscovery of ancient traditions and the valorization of the cultural roots of our country. Various initiatives related to the Befana are also organized throughout Italy. The nice old lady, with her broom and the sack full of gifts (and coal for the more “naughty” ones), continues to bring magic to Italian homes, giving a smile and a little sweetness to the little ones and keeping alive one of the most cherished traditions of our culture.
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