In Italian folklore, Befana
is an old woman (or friendly old witch) who delivers gifts to children on Epiphany Eve (January 5).
The name Befana is thought to derive from the
Feast of Epiphany
- "La Festa dell'Epifania".
According to folklore
Befana visits all the children of Italy on the eve of the Feast of the Epiphany
to deliver gifts - candy, if they have been good, or coal if they have been
bad.
Befana is usually portrayed as an old lady or witch riding a broomstick.
She is covered in soot
because she enters the children's houses down the chimney.
In Christian legend, Befana
was approached by the Three Wise
Men a few days before the birth of the Infant Jesus. They asked
for directions, as they were following his star in the sky, but she did not
know where to send them. Instead she offered them a bed for the night. The next
day, as gratitude for her hospitality, they invited her to join them on their
journey, but she declined as she had too much housework to do. She later
regretted this and set out on her own to find them and the baby Jesus, but was
unable to. So to this day, the legend says, she is still searching and travels
the night sky on her broomstick, visiting children on the way, delivering
gifts, in the hope of finding the baby Jesus
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