On her eternal journey to greet Baby Jesus, the Italian Christmas witch, La Befana leaves sweets for children and a question for adults: who was she really and could her roots be older than her own tradition?
Italy, with its wealthy tapestry of folklore and tradition, adds a unique touch to the holiday season with the legend of La Befana. This Christmas witch, who precedes Santa Claus in Italian tradition, is a figure shrouded in mystery, magic and a touch of horror.
The legend of La Befana
La Befana is an elderly woman, often depicted as a witch with a broom, who visits children on the night of January 5, Epiphany Eve. According to Italian folklore, he flies through the night sky and delivers gifts to children like Santa Claus on Christmas Eve. However, La Befana's story is much older and imbued with a darker, more mystical aura.
The origins of the legend of La Befana are diverse and multi-faceted, drawing on age-old Roman, pagan and Christian traditions dating back to the 8th century. Some say it evolved from a Sabino-Roman goddess named Strenia, who symbolizes the novel year and seasonal cycles associated with agriculture or relating to the previous year's harvest, now ready to be reborn as novel.
Some believe that Strenua is the origin of “Befana”. In Italian folklore, Befana is an elderly witch who flies around Italy on a broom and comes down chimneys on Epiphany Eve (the night of January 5) to deliver gifts. On the twelfth night after the winter solstice, the death and rebirth of nature through Mother Nature was celebrated. The Romans believed that during these twelve nights, female figures flew over the fields to atone for the fertility of future crops, hence the myth of the “flying” figure. According to some, this female figure was first identified in Diana, a moon goddess associated not only with game but also with vegetation, while others believe she was associated with a minor deity called Content (goddess of satiety) or Aboundia (goddess of abundance). Another hypothesis would link Befana with an age-old Roman festival that always took place in winter in honor of Janus and Strenia (which is where the word “strenna” comes from) and during which gifts were exchanged [9] .
One popular version of this story says that La Befana was approached by the Three Wise Men during their journey in search of the newborn Jesus after Bethlehem appeared in the sky. They asked for directions, but La Befana, busy with housework, initially refused to aid. Later, full of remorse, she tried to find the Magi and Baby Jesus, bringing gifts for the Baby. Unable to find them, he continues his search for Jesus every year, leaving gifts for children in the hope that one of them will be Baby Jesus.
The spooky aspect of La Befana
Although La Befana is generally perceived as a benevolent figure, her appearance and certain aspects of her legend give her a ghostly, witch-like quality. Dressed in tattered clothes, her face covered with soot from climbing chimneys, La Befana's witchy appearance contrasts sharply with the cheerful figure of Santa Claus.
Her annual visit is not without a bit of fear. Italian children believe that La Befana will leave behind a piece of coal or gloomy candy if she is naughty, instead of the sweets and diminutive gifts she gives to the good ones. The thought of a witch visiting their home in the middle of the night can be both thrilling and terrifying for adolescent children.
Moreover, the image of an elderly witch flying through the night sky with a broom in her hand evokes classic Halloween images, adding a layer of horror to the holiday season. The idea that year after year she continues her eternal search for the Baby Jesus, wandering through the gloomy winter sky, gives her story a haunting, almost ghostly dimension.
Rituals and traditions of La Befana
In Italy, the arrival of La Befana is celebrated with various customs and traditions. On the night of January 5, children hang stockings by the fireplace and leave food and wine for La Befana, hoping to appease the witch and receive her blessing. The next morning, they eagerly check their socks for gifts or coal, depending on their behavior over the past year.
Throughout Italy, especially in the regions of Rome and around Lazio, towns and cities hold fairs and parades to celebrate the Epiphany. Dolls are made of it, effigies are burned and bonfires are often lit. One of the most notable celebrations takes place in Urbania, where thousands of people gather to celebrate La Befana in a huge festival featuring street artists, music and, of course, the arrival of the Christmas Witch herself.
Befana in contemporary culture
Despite its spooky overtones, La Befana remains a beloved figure in Italian culture. It represents the fusion of age-old traditions with current celebrations, embodying the spirit of both giving and penance. In the morning, there is even Viva la Befana in St. Peter's Square in Rome.
In recent years, La Befana has also become a symbol of female strength and independence, reflecting the strength and resilience of an elderly woman who faces the winter night alone. La Befana's story is a fascinating mix of fantasy, mystery and a bit of horror. As an Italian Christmas witch, she adds a unique and eerie charm to the holiday season, reminding us that the magic of Christmas is not only joy and airy, but also the secrets lurking in the shadows. Her story continues to captivate and enchant, ensuring that the Christmas Witch will remain an enduring part of Italy's wealthy cultural heritage.
Reference:
La Befana: the Epiphany tradition in Italy – sought after in Rome
Screw Santa Claus and celebrate Befana, the Italian kidnapped Christmas witch
La Befana brings holiday treats 12 days after Christmas – The Washington Post
Image Source: Pixabay.com
