La Befana (la = the) is an old witch who flies around Italy on the Eve of Epiphany (January 5th) bringing sweets and gifts to good children and coal, onion and garlic to naughty children. This La Befana Italian Christmas Witch craft is the perfect activity to accompany your teaching of Holidays Around the World in Italy! Sign up to our mailing list and be part of our story. Some claim she sweeps the floor before she leaves as a symbol to sweep away the previous year’s problems. ABOUT LA BEFANA GIOCATTOLI. 840 people like this. Toy Store in Genova, Italy. Most sources say that the myth of La Befana goes back to the 13th century. La Befana. [English] The Befana comes by night With her shoes all broken With a dress in Roman style Up, up with the Befana !! La Befana è Madre Natura che appare alla fine della transizione tra il vecchio e il nuovo anno. 856 people follow this. By Laura Egan. On the night of January 5th “La Befana” travels on her magic broom, to every house in Italy bringing gifts. The Italian-language Christmas fantasy comedy film The Legend of the Christmas Witch (Italian: La Befana vien di notte), was released on December 27, 2018. La Befana is a fictional figure who is portrayed as an elderly woman, riding a broomstick, wearing a shawl, and covered in soot. Epiphany Traditions in Italy. The name La Befana derives from the word "epifania". The legend of La Befana, Italy’s favourite old lady. Grades: 1 st, 2 nd, 3 rd. The Feast of the Epiphany, celebrated January 6 with a national holiday in Italy, and the tradition of La Befana are a big part of Italian Christmas celebrations. Is the Befana coming to Fremantle? The figure of La Befana has been an Italian Christmas tradition, long before Babbo Natale (Santa Claus) made his way into the bel paese culture. It is a national holiday across Italy, with public offices closed, and marks the official end of the Christmas season. Community . She is depicted as an ugly old woman riding on a broom wearing a shawl and covered in soot, because she enters the houses through the chimney. Festivities take place all around the country. Più di Novanta.. Dal 1926, La Befana commercializza all’ingrosso e vende al dettaglio giochi e giocattoli, articoli p... See More. La Befana is the Italian Christmas witch who delivers presents to children on January 6th as she searches for baby Jesus. In the Italian folklore, la Befana is a kind, ugly witch on a broomstick who delivers gifts to children throughout Italy on Epiphany Eve (the night of January 5) in a similar way to Saint Nicholas or Santa Claus. The best-known example is the festival in Piazza Navona in Rome, which typically features a merry-go-round, puppet shows and food stalls. She fills their socks with candy if they are good and with pieces of candy, the color of coal if they are bad. La Befana is known all over throughout history as a wise and magical woman who arrives flying on a broom or sometimes even on a donkey bringing gifts to the children, leaving figs, dates, nuts, and candy on the eve of the Epiphany. 19 check-ins. 1 / 3. 5. Jan 9, 2019 - Explore Carreen Andersen's board "La Befana", followed by 194 people on Pinterest. Via Assarotti, 2/R (5,378.36 mi) Genova, Liguria, Italy, 16122. 837 people like this. The Italian-Spanish co-production was directed by Michele Soavi and features a 500-year-old Befana who works as a schoolteacher by day. Sign up. Open Now. History of La Befana. Epiphany in Italy On January 6th, Italy, as many other countries, celebrates Epiphany and in Italy, Epiphany is called Befana. Pre-order your copy of Arrviera la Befana a Fremantle? The story of La Befana, Italy’s Christmas witch: the magical character that celebrates the epiphany in Italy and ‘carries away’ the festivities. I camini delle case lungo i quali si cala la Befana simbolicamente raffigurano un punto di comunicazione tra la terra e il cielo. She leaves candy, treats and presents if you’re good, and a lump of coal or black candy if you’re bad. In exchange, many families leave her a glass of wine and a plate of sausages and broccoli. La Befana, which falls each year on 6 January, is a public holiday across Italy. High pyres of wood and straw, with on top a figure of the Befana, or old lady, are lit. Subjects: Writing, Christmas/ Chanukah/ Kwanzaa. It is a national holiday across Italy, with public offices closed, and marks the Christmas season’s official end. Più di Novanta.. Dal 1926, La Befana commercializza all’ingrosso e vende al dettaglio giochi e giocattoli, articoli p... See More. Community See All. Via Assarotti, 2/R (4,261.75 mi) Genova, Liguria, Italy, 16122. https://www.walksofitaly.comMany of the characteristics that dozens of countries associate with Santa Claus, belong to "La Befana" in Italy. Closed Now. La Befana is an old woman who delivers gifts to children all over Italy on the eve of Epiphany, the night of January 5 th. Here in Italy, it also represents the day of Befana, who is an old woman who delivers gifts (mainly chocolate) to children throughout Italy on Epiphany Eve if they were good, if not they get a lump of coal, just as Santa does on Christmas Eve. A festivity dear to children and adults, it has ancient origins and a fantastic background story. 5 out of 5 stars. Rome: Italians celebrate the religious feast of the Epiphany, or the more popular folklore version of La Befana, on 6 January which falls on a Wednesday in 2021. In modern-day Italy some shops sell carbone or black rock candy that actually looks like pieces of coal. ABOUT LA BEFANA GIOCATTOLI. You can easily keep up to date about our upcoming events, workshops and book related activities. La Befana vien di notte (Italian Version) La Befana vien di notte, Con le scarpe tutte rotte, Col vestito alla romana Viva, Viva La Befana! Long after many Americans have taken down their Christmas trees and packed away the decorations, Italians continue to celebrate. The date is variable. Epiphany commemorates the 12th day of Christmas when the three Wise Men arrived at the manger bearing gifts for Baby Jesus. The gift giver in Italy is a woman. Throughout Italy, children eagerly await the arrival of La Befana, and cities hold celebrations in her name. The traditional Christmas holiday season in Italy lasts through Epiphany. Italy: La Befana – a Christmas tradition 1 month ago . Have you ever heard of a friendly witch that delivers presents? La Befana is an old Italian Christmas tradition dated at the 13 th century. La Befana: Celebrations throughout Italy In Italy, the Epiphany, January 6 th, is a national holiday, with banks, offices, and most stores closed. It is celebrated on the 6 th of January, the day of the Epiphany, a Christian feast day that celebrates the revelation of God in his Son as human in Jesus Christ. The biblical date of Epiphany is January 6, but since that day is not a holiday, it is typically celebrated on the first Sunday after January 1. Share Tweet Whatsapp Share. Here is the english version: The Befana comes by night With her shoes all tattered and torn, She comes dressed in the Roman way, Long live the Befana! Many people believe in La Befana’s existence, while others believe it is a fanciful story created for children. In Varenna, on Lake Como, men dressed like the Three Kings parade through the countryside with torches, bestowing gifts on the needy. La Befana vien di notte Con le scarpe tutte rotte Col vestito alla romana Viva, Viva La Befana! About See All. Toy Store in Genova, Italy. This month Cultural Mixology invites you to learn more about La Befana, the Italian Christmas witch. The Feast of the Epiphany, celebrated on January 6 with a national holiday in Italy, and the tradition of La Befana are an integral part of Italian Christmas celebrations. Her principal function is that of reaffirming the bond between family and the ancestors through the exchange of gifts. In rural areas of Italy, the evening before the epiphany takes place the traditional burning of La Befana. La Befana, the Italian Christmas Witch. All this focus on La Befana doesn't mean that there aren't also traditional Epiphany events. Buy Now . Italian Christmas tradition of "La Befana" The legend of Babbo Natale (Santa Claus) has existed in Italy mostly since the days of World War II. See more ideas about italian christmas, christmas in italy, italian christmas traditions. (It seems that she doesn’t have the sweet tooth of Santa Claus!) However, just as traditional food varies from region to region, so does La Befana, and many towns have their own special traditions. Italian ladies dressed like la Befana on January 6. Every year on January 5, residents of Urbania host an enormous celebration that attracts between 30,000 and 50,000 people. Community See All. La Befana is also celebrated across Italy with street markets, parties and games for children. La Befana celebrations occur throughout Italy, each one having its own customs. La Befana, Italy’s Beloved Holiday Witch. About See All. But La Befana is a good witch, and for this reason she is so popular in Italy and although Santa Claus creeped into the Italian Christmas tradition over time, La Befana still reigns supreme. 860 people follow this. LA BEFANA – ITALY'S SIGNORA SANTA The ancient Christian feast day of Epiphany (today) commemorates the visit of the Wise Men to the new born Christ Child, bearing their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh and is the origin of our tradition of giving Christmas presents. She is an old Italian lady, who gave her name to befanini. Jan 4, 2021. One of my favorite winter traditions is the celebration of Epiphany in Italy (6th of January). Complete with step by step directions wit. a bi-lingual Italian and English story about Italy’s most beloved folklore legend - La Befana. But Befana’s question of existence is irrelevant. Yeah, I know, that sounds a lot like Santa Claus so she may also be the precursor to the legends surrounding the jolly old man himself! In Venice (from where we ought to have been returning this afternoon! On January 5, the eve of the Epiphany, many cities, especially in the northeast, celebrate with a bonfire in the town square, called falò del vecchione. For instance, there is the Cavalcade of the Magi in Florence, in which some 700 people decked out in Renaissance costumes ride on horseback through the historic city centre. Italians celebrate the epiphany’s religious feast, or the more popular folklore version of La Befana, on 6 January, which falls on a Wednesday in 2021. La Befana flies on her broomstick on the Eve of the Epiphany, January 5, to leave candy, or charcoal, in children’s stockings! Published January 6, 2021. 5. Her name is Befana. In Italy, children hang stockings on the Eve of the Epiphany, the celebration of the visit of the Wise Men to the Christ child. Ella distribuisce doni buoni che sono il presagio di buone novità della stagione a venire, e il carbone, a memento delle cattive azioni di cui ci si deve pentire. 5 out of 5 stars. Porta cenere e carboni ai bambini cattivoni ai bambini belli e buoni porta chicchi e tanti doni! La Befana visits all the children of Italy on Epiphany Eve (January 5) by magically sliding down the chimney on her broom. [Italian] La Befana vien di notte con le scarpe tutte rotte col vestito alla "romana" viva viva la Befana!! In Adriatic coast towns and villages, bands of men and boys go about from house to house singing Epiphany songs and receiving small gifts in return. 19 check-ins. Email. The biggest La Befana festival takes place in Urbania, her traditional home. The Burning of The Old Lady – Bruciare La Vecchia. Hair grey, back hunched, La Befana is often seen wearing a headscarf of hat, a shawl, old clothes with patches, battered shoes, an apron, and carrying her broom.