Do Italians still celebrate La Befana?
While in most other parts of the world, Christmas and New Year holidays have now come to an end, Italians are still celebrating, as every January 6, the Epiphany, is a national holiday to commemorate the visit of the Three Kings, i Re Magi, to the Baby Jesus.
What countries celebrate La Befana?
The modern day Befana is now celebrated throughout Italy. Some regions where the religious holiday of the Epiphany is held in a higher regard, such as Umbria, Le Marche, and Latium, have big festivals and markets, and many people like to dress in costume as Befana.
Where did La Befana originate?
Italy
La Befana originates from a fairytale about a woman who flies on a broomstick bringing presents to children in Italy. La Befana is believed to be searching for baby Jesus, hence why she bears gifts for children. Many cities and towns in Italy organize festivities and parades to celebrate Epiphany on January 6.
What day is La Befana 2021?
6 January
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. The Epiphany is a national holiday across Italy, with public offices closed, and marks the official end of the Christmas season.
Why do they burn La Befana?
The feast of this fairy-tale old lady, so much beloved and feared by Italian children, takes origin from the “old lady” which was burned in the squares to celebrate the end of the year, a symbol of time cycles always ending and beginning again.
How do Italians celebrate Befana?
In popular folklore, Befana visits all the children of Italy on the eve of the Feast of the Epiphany to fill their socks with candy and presents if they are good, or a lump of coal or dark candy if they are bad.
Does La Befana fly?
La Befana Festivals La Befana is a witch who rides through the sky on her broomstick to deliver gifts on the night before Epiphany, the religious day that commemorates the arrival of the 3 Kings bearing gifts at the nativity. So she flies around each year looking for places to bring gifts.
What do Italians leave for La Befana?
Italians say that Befana is still searching for that baby and, on her quest, she leaves treats such as toys and candy or fruit for well-behaved children. Naughty children get chunks of coal, onions, and garlic, or even a straw from her broom instead of rewards.
What do they eat on La Befana?
All kinds of Befana cakes and cookies (called Befani) are made across Italy. In some regions, La Befana’s arrival is celebrated with a Panettone a round yellow fruit bread, in others, a star-shaped bread called Focaccia Della Befana is made. Italians hide a coin inside and whoever finds it will be lucky all year.
Is La Befana a witch?
In Italian folklore, La Befana is a witch who brings good children treats on the morning of the Epiphany, January 6.