What is the legend of La Befana?
In Italian folklore, La Befana is a witch who brings good children treats on the morning of the Epiphany, January 6. But if you were bad, look out – you may wake up to a lump of coal.
Why do Italians burn La Befana?
Pagan origins 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.
Who is Babbo Natale and Befana?
Babbo Natale, Italy’s version of Santa Claus, is becoming more popular and gift giving on Christmas day is becoming more common. La Befana, the old woman who delivers gifts on Epiphany, January 6 is still the more popular Italian Christmas figure. Babbo Natale, or Father Christmas is gaining popularity in Italy.
What happens in Piazza Navona at Christmas?
Every year we wait for news about the Christmas Market in Piazza Navona. In 2021, this event has been CANCELLED. The Christmas Market and Fair in Piazza Navona in 2014, when a controversy and scandal caused the fair to reduce its proportions drastically. This is now more or less what it looks like each year since then.
Who celebrates La Befana?
Italy’s traditional holiday celebration includes the tale of a witch known as La Befana who arrives on her broomstick during the night of January 5th with toys and sweets for the good children and lumps of coal for the bad ones.
What gifts does La Befana bring?
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.
What does La Befana do before she leaves?
Befana, a grandmotherly woman who resembles a kindly witch, brings gifts to good little children, depositing them in stockings hung above the hearth, then tidying up a bit before taking her leave. The medieval figure conceived of in 13th century Rome is very similar to the grandmotherly Befana children adore today.
Who came first Santa or Befana?
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. Most sources say that the myth of La Befana goes back to the 13th century.
What does Rome do for Christmas?
Rome is fantastic in the holiday season. During the festive period, the city is buzzing with activity. Christmas lights and decorations frost with festive cheer streets and piazzas; shops showcase their best window displays and churches gear up for one of the biggest celebrations of the Christian calendar.
Which city has the biggest celebration for Befana?
One particularly popular celebration is the National Befana Festival that occurs each year in the Marche city of Urbania, thought to be the official home of La Befana, where upwards of 50,000 attendees watch parades and fireworks and witness La Befana “fly” down the town’s main bell tower.
How do Italians celebrate Befana?
The arrival of la Befana is celebrated with traditional Italian foods such as panettone and marks the end of the long and festive holiday season in Italy. In honor of the Three Wise Men, Italians go to church and enjoy spending the day with family.