Tonight’s the night Befana comes to visit, leaving children in Italy sweets if they’ve been good and coal if naughty. These days she’s depicted as a ‘witch’ who visits on the twelfth day of Christmas, coming down chimneys to deliver her gifts (and yes, she was about long before a certain jolly fellow). Incredibly, her origins are tied up in Italian folklore for more than two thousand years, and not only that, but with links to Abruzzo.
Initially, Befana was known as Strenua or Strenia, an ancient goddess of the new year for the Sabines in central Italy’s Apennines, and then for the Romans too. As early as 153BC, records show sweet gifts of dates, figs and honey were exchanged in her honour for the coming year and twigs carried from Strenua’s fertile grove in procession.
These ‘twigs’ likely later became a broom when she was morphed into Christianity as an older woman busy sweeping her house when the magi, three wise men stopped by en route to see the new-born Jesus. The ‘sweet gifts’ becoming those Befana gave children after regretting being too busy working to join the magi. She set out later but, unable to find them or the baby Jesus, instead left her gifts for other children.
Over time, Befana became depicted as more witch-like, travelling by broom, her gifts not only sweets but also coal (yet still valuable for heat in winter, a gift shared with all). I’ve a soft spot for witches, especially those who are healers and an integral part of village life. I’m perhaps biased since my Bisnonna Maddalena was one of Fossa’s witches, but I can’t help feeling it’s unfair how these older knowledgeable women over time became portrayed as uglier and uglier, including Befana.
Lessen the hooked nose, pointed chin, warts and pointy hat and the ‘witch’ is a woman, with years of experience behind her. A nonna, mother, aunt, the lady next door – women who’ve aged with grace, hard work and all that happens over time when blessed with a long life. A woman, perhaps familiar, older, living alone, cleaning her house, making sweets as gifts and quite beautiful in her lined face and her kindnesses. A woman like Befana.
Epiphany is still celebrated in many countries around the world and it’s lovely (and quite incredible in a way!) that in Italy, Befana remains a part of it and held close more than two millennia on. Viva, viva la Befana. Buona Epifania! 🌠
Zoë Boccabella 