La Befana, the old woman who fills her stockings with sweets, but where does the tradition come from that on the night between 5 and 6 January the lady aboard a flying broom visits all the children ...
Here 5 curiosities that maybe you didn't know about it ...
- ITALIAN or EUROPEAN TRADITION The Befana is a typically Italian tradition, and derives from pagan rites linked to agriculture and seasonal cycles.
it is called this from the term "epiphany" from which "Bifania" and therefore Befana is derived. - ANCIENT WORSHIP OF GOD MITRA The tradition derives from the cult of the Persian god of the god Mithras, the ancient Romans then believed that flying female figures flew over the fields to propitiate the fertility of future crops.
- THE BEFANA, REPENTED Legend has it that she was a lady to whom the Magi asked for directions on the way to go and who, despite their invitations, did not follow them. Once the three kings left, he regretted it and in an attempt to reach the child he rode on his broom giving sweets to the children ...
- THE WORN CLOTHES Wear shabby clothes to represent the old year and donate candy as a wish for prosperity for the future
- THE BROOM Travel aboard a broom because it is a lucky symbol capable of bringing purification to souls
- HOLIDAYS or LESS In 1977 January 6 was removed from holidays and was restored only in 1985 with the Craxi government.
- THE COAL The charcoal, which is inserted into the socks together with the sweets traditionally has a benevolent meaning as a ritual symbol of bonfires and puppets burned as a "seasonal renewal".
- Good and evil Initially condemned by the Church, she was later accepted as a figure depicting the dualism of Good and Evil.
- THE EPIPHANY IN EUROPE In Germany, on the night between the 5th and the 6th, the boys write the acronym of the name of the three Magi “KMB” outside the doors, while in France the Epiphany is called “The day of the Kings”.
- MOTHER NATURE The figure of the Befana is inspired by Mother Nature, who in the night between 5 and 6 January appeared as old after having given her energy for a whole year.
