After closing the bracket between Christmas and New Year, Epiphany is the holiday that children have been waiting for a long time, because after the gifts from Santa Claus, it brings new surprises and, above all, a lot of sweets in the famous “stocking” that brings the awakening of the January 6th very exciting. However, it is impossible to see them, because as the famous children’s song says: “The Befana comes at night with broken shoes and brings with her a sack full of gifts to give to the good children.” Yes, the children are warned: they must behave well, otherwise the old and tireless old lady, attentive observer, could also bring coal, but only for the naughty children. But what is the significance of this festival and why is Befana a very popular character among children?
Let’s start with his appearance, from the worn clothes to the broken shoes
In the collective imagination it is an older woman, hunchbacked, with a hooked nose, unkempt white hair, a dark and loose skirt, an apron with pockets, a scarf, a handkerchief or a cap on her head and the inevitable broken shoes. Perhaps not everyone knows that their clothes symbolize the death of the past year, hoping that the new year can bring rebirth and prosperity.
La Befana: This is the meaning of her name
The term Befana is derived from “epiphany,” a Greek word meaning “divine revelation.” In ancient times, the twelfth night after Christmas was always dedicated to the moon and the term epiphany referred to the manifestation of moonlight around January 6th. Over time, the term was transformed first into “Bifania” and then into “Beffania” until it arrived at the Befana we know today. So it’s just that, even if today when you hear the word Befana, everyone immediately thinks of the old lady who carries socks full of sweets on her broom every January 6th.
Why we celebrate Epiphany
This festival has a very ancient origin and even dates back to before the birth of Christianity. Epiphany is celebrated on January 6 (from the Greek epiphany, meaning “sudden revelation”, “revelation”), the day that ends the Christmas holiday. In Christian tradition, we remember the adoration of the Magi, who came from far away to Bethlehem to celebrate the birth of the baby Jesus and brought him precious gifts: gold, frankincense and myrrh. An occasion that is not celebrated equally everywhere in the world. The figure of Befana is celebrated in many ways around the world and each country has its own legends and customs. An example? The Orthodox Church celebrates it on January 19th.
Why does Befana wear stockings?
According to one of the most accepted versions, the three kings (Melchior, Balthasar and Gaspar) set off to Bethlehem to bring their gifts to the baby Jesus. Since they couldn’t find the crib, they asked an old woman they met along the way for information. Although the woman knew that the Magi would see little Jesus, she did not follow them at first, but soon regretted her decision. At this time, she prepared a basket full of all kinds of sweets and went in search of the Three Wise Men, even though she couldn’t meet them in the end. Along the way, she gave these sweets to the children she met, hoping that one of them was Jesus. From then on, the Befana traveled around the world, giving sweets as compensation and the little ones putting socks and shoes on the old lady at the door. : If he needed them during his wanderings, he could use them, otherwise he filled them with sweets.
The Befana and the coal: why does she bring it and to whom?
According to tradition, if the children were naughty, the Befana would find coal in the stocking instead of sweets. Where does this custom come from? According to some scholars, it would be a reference to ancient rites in which dolls were burned as a sign of renewal. The ashes would be a kind of cleansing from the past year, in the hope that the new beginning will be full of opportunities. Therefore, by giving coal to children who have not behaved well, we hope that they will do well in the New Year.
Because Befana travels on a broomstick
The Befana travels aboard a flying broom, because the broom is an ancient symbol of good luck that can cleanse homes and souls.
Why does the Befana come through the chimney?
According to Italian tradition, the Befana enters houses through chimney hoods. Why? The meaning is symbolic: the fireplace is a point of communication between the earth and the sky.
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germanic news
May 31, 2024
