Italian Christmas Traditions:
The Legend of La Befana

Christmas isn’t always just about Santa Claus. As wonderful as the tradition of Santa is, there are so many other famous holiday characters all over the world…especially in Italy! As you look up in the sky this Holiday season, you might not be seeing the big guy in a sled with reindeer flying from house to house.  If you look a little closer while your feet are planted on that Italian soil, you might notice he looks a little…different – so much so, you may be wondering if the woman you’re seeing riding a broomstick across the night sky means you somehow traveled back in time to Halloween. Fear not – that old woman on a broom carrying presents for all the kids is actually the Italian Christmas Witch known as Befana!

However, you won’t be spotting Befana on Christmas eve or day – rather, after Christmas and New Years have been enjoyed and celebrated, Befana comes around on the 6th of January. From a religious perspective, this day is the National Holiday of the Epiphany, which is the Christian celebration of presenting the child Christ to the Three Magi (the Three Wise Men) and marks the end of the Christmas period. However, the tradition of La Befana actually starts the night before on Jan 5th – the Epiphany Eve. It is said that Befana was an older woman of small means, soot covered and known to be a witch.  She always had her broomstick (as witches do), however the lore says that she used this broomstick not just for riding, but also for exactly what the broom was made for – sweeping. The theory is that when Befana comes to visit, she sweeps away the bad in order to make room for the good of the next year. Honestly if this is the case…Befana is welcome in my home any time of the year.  

However in order to understand how Befana came to be, we need to go just a bit further back…

The legend of La Befana begins during the Three Magi’s journey to see the birth of Christ. As they were on their journey, they got lost and asked Befana for food, shelter and help to get to Bethlehem.  They invited her to join their search for Jesus in exchange for the help she provided, however she declined to join them. Later that same evening, awoken by a bright light, she took this as a sign to follow the Three Magi. Unfortunately as she ventured out on her search, she became lost trying to find the Three Magi and the manger, forever looking and never finding them.

On the eve of the Feast of the Epiphany ( Jan 5th) it is said that Befana takes to the skies on her broomstick to continue her search for Jesus, dropping off gifts to sleeping children in the hopes of finding him. In return, children leave out a shoe or hang stockings in anticipation of her visit – they even may leave out some sweets and wine for her to enjoy as well. Befana is said to leave sweet treats for children that were nice and charcoal (or dark hard candy) for those children who were naughty.  The following day on the Feast of the Epiphany, presents are exchanged and families celebrate the end to the holiday calendar together.

This 13th century legend has been passed along for generations and was originally unique to just the region surrounding Rome. However now, the festival of La Befana has now grown to become a popular tradition all over Italyr! Right around Christmas time, you will begin to see chocolate filled stockings decorated with pictures of Befana line the hallways of Italian shops, specifically in anticipation of the day. Additionally, because there is of course no skipping an opportunity to celebrate a holiday in Italy without some really tasty treats, you may even see Befanini, which are small, delicious, colorful sugar cookies that sometimes can be found made with rum and vanilla. Befana even has her own signature cake – a fruity, golden dessert with a dried bean or coin hidden inside that is typically served at the family table on January 6th. Whoever finds the surprise in their slice is crowned King or Queen for the day!

Beyond all the delicious bites, there are even different types of celebrations throughout Italy for her – one popular tradition takes place in Rome’s Piazza Navona, where tourists visit the area around midnight in hopes of seeing her. Another takes place in the town of Urbania, located in the Province of Pesaro and Urbino, which known as the official home of Befana. Here, they put together a massive festival every year with over 50,000 people attending and celebrating. It’s even common to see some people enjoying the holiday by dressing up like her!

As you’ve likely been able to tell so far, many of the traditions celebrating La Befana mirror those that celebrate Santa Claus, and as an American living in Italy who didn’t grow up with the tradition of La Befana, it’s been super fun to find these similarities. Personally, it feels wonderful to continue celebrating the holidays into the New Year – but I’m also someone who breaks out the Christmas decorations on November 1st and continues playing Christmas music way past the holidays to continue those Christmas feels!

With any culture, it’s fascinating to see how their traditions and storytelling create a very unique holiday seasons, and one I’m honored to be able to share with others now. This time honored tradition is a perfect example of how the inspiration of historical folklore continues to be celebrated generations later. 

La Befana truly is a beautiful way to close out the holidays here in Italy – as long as you’re not waking up with any coal from her 😉