Befana

The Befana, which is a corruption of Epifania, the Feast of the

Ave Roma Immortalis, Vol. 1 Studies from the Chronicles of Rome 1881

The Italians call it the festival of the "Befana," the word being a readily-perceived corruption of

Lippincott's Magazine of Popular Literature and Science Volume 17, No. 100, April, 1876 Various

Christmas witch, La Befana, everywhere, on stockings and pendants, decorations and candies, a half-hideous, half-friendly spectre primed to dispense gifts to the young at Epiphany.

Excerpt: The Garden of Evil by David Hewson 2008

Just as American children are taught that they must behave in order to insure a visit from Santa Claus on Christmas Day, Italian children have traditionally been told that they must comport themselves nicely in order that Befana, the grandmotherly house frau who failed to accompany the Wise Men to Bethlehem click here to read her story, might distribute gifts at their house on the feast of Epiphany.

Roman Holidays: Behaving Well for Befana! at eternallycool.net 2008

Just as American children are taught that they must behave in order to insure a visit from Santa Claus on Christmas Day, Italian children have traditionally been told that they must comport themselves nicely in order that Befana, the grandmotherly house frau who failed to accompany the Wise Men to Bethlehem click here to read her story, might distribute gifts at their house on the feast of Epiphany.

2008 January 03 archive at eternallycool.net 2008

An Italian playwright wrote it, so I was wondering if he had the Italian Christmas witch, Befana in mind.

Archive 2006-12-01 Terry Nelson 2006

In Lombardy and Veneto, goose is eaten on this day, and it is Santa Lucia who brings the presents to children, not Father Christmas or Befana.

Celebrating the Feast of St. Lucy Argent 2006

An Italian playwright wrote it, so I was wondering if he had the Italian Christmas witch, Befana in mind.

Archive 2006-12-03 Terry Nelson 2006

An Italian playwright wrote it, so I was wondering if he had the Italian Christmas witch, Befana in mind.

The liar, the witch, and the chancery Terry Nelson 2006

Of course the sense and meaning of the original term have been entirely forgotten, and the Befana of the Italian populace is a sort of witch, mainly benevolent indeed, and especially friendly to children, to whom in the course of the night she brings presents, to be found by them in the morning in a stocking or a shoe or any other such fantastic hiding-place.

Lippincott's Magazine of Popular Literature and Science Volume 17, No. 100, April, 1876 Various