But we did have the fear that if we were bad we would receive coal in our stockings...........and my cousin Gary did get coal one year!
So I was thrilled when a face book contact posted the following story. It explains who Befana is and her legend. With the posters permission: La Befana
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| The xmas market in Rome sells Befana dolls |
Stephen Mark Ulissi
In Italian folklore Befana is portrayed as an old lady riding a broomstick. She visits children all over the world on the eve of the Feast of the Epiphany to fill their socks with a sweet (dolce) if they have behaved well (buona figura) or good piece of onion if they have been bad (brutta figura). Befana enters each house through the chimney and, being a good housekeeper, uses her broom to sweep up a bit before she leaves. Many of the past year's problems are swept away during this cleaning. Children who are wise (furbi) leave a glass of wine (vino) and a bite to eat (it is said she loves cardoons) to nibble on just to make sure she does not fly over without stopping in.
Befana's origins date to the time when she was approached by the biblical Magi (Three Wise Men) soon after the birth of the Infant Jesus. They had become lost when, after seeing His star in the sky, they set out to bring gifts to the Savior. The Befana didn’t know the exact location but pointed them towards Bethlehem and gave them a place to sleep in her tidy house. Just prior to departing, the Magi asked her to accompany them on the journey to find the baby Jesus. But Befana chose to stay behind as it had been a very bad year and many problems needed to be swept away. Soon after their departure Befana had a change of heart and went out to catch up with the Magi. Her efforts were in vain and, on the 6th of January, the Epiphany took place in her absence. To this day Befana searches the world over for the Our Lord. During her endless wandering she stops along the way to leave treats for all good children to enjoy.
