Why is La Befana a witch?
Why is La Befana a witch?
La Befana – The Good Witch of Christmas According to a popular song about Befana, she is dressed “in the Roman custom” (col vestito alla romana). She’s affectionately known as “the Christmas witch”, due to her costume and association with Sabine, who was sometimes referred to as a good witch, and protector of children.
Is La Befana a witch?
In Italian folklore, La Befana is a witch who brings good children treats on the morning of the Epiphany, January 6.
What is the story of the Befana?
Befana is said to be an old woman and many refer to her as a witch, who visits all the children in Italy on the eve of the Epiphany, celebrated on January 6. She fills the children’s stockings full of either candy or coal, depending on their behaviour the year before.
What is eaten on La Befana?
Special treats on La Befana include sweet coal, small cookies called befanini and Befana cake – a cake with a large dried bean inside. Whoever gets the bean in their slice is king (or queen) for the day.
What gifts does La Befana bring?
Traditionally it’s La Befana who brings gifts and candy (or lumps of coal) to put in children’s stockings, not on Christmas but on the eve of Epiphany. Although these days most children receive gifts on Christmas, it’s still a fun day of celebrations, festivals, and small gifts and sweets.
What does the Befana do?
In Italian folklore, Befana (pronounced [beˈfaːna]) is an old woman who delivers gifts to children throughout Italy on Epiphany Eve (the night of January 5) in a similar way to St. Nicholas or Santa Claus.
What does La Befana wear?
La Befana is an old woman dressed in long skirts and woolen shawls, often ugly with a wart on her nose, flying on a broomstick just like witches do, bringing gifts to the children the night before January 6th.
Where do they say Dun Che Lao Ren?
In China, Santa is called Dun Che Lao Ren, which means “Christmas old man.” Not everyone in the country celebrates Christmas, or Sheng Dan Jieh.
Who is the gift giver in Italy?
La Befana
Although by now Santa Claus, called Babbo Natale in Italian, has made his way into the hearts of Italian children, the traditional gift giver is La Befana, a Christmas witch. Legend has it that la Befana was an old woman who was visited by the wise men, who asked her for directions days before the birth of Christ.
What is Dun Che Lao Ren?
China: Dun Che Lao Ren – Dun Che Lao Ren translates to “Christmas Old Man.” A small population, the Christians in China celebrate Christmas Day, which they call Sheng Dan Jieh, meaning “Holy Birth Festival”. Claus is also known as Lan Khoong-Khoong, which translates to “Nice Old Father.”