The Darkish Facet of Christmas: La Befana – Italy’s Christmas Witch

On an everlasting path to greet the infant Jesus, the Italian Christmas Witch, La Befana leaves sweet for the youngsters and a query to the grown ups: Who was she actually, and will her origins be older than her personal custom maybe?

The Befana comes by evening
Together with her sneakers all tattered and torn
She comes dressed within the Roman method
Lengthy stay the Befana!

Italy, with its wealthy tapestry of folklore and traditions, provides a novel twist to the festive season with the legend of La Befana. This Christmas witch, who predates Santa Claus in Italian custom, is a determine shrouded in thriller, magic, and a contact of spookiness.

The Legend of La Befana

La Befana is an outdated girl, usually depicted as a witch with a broomstick, who visits youngsters on the evening of January fifth, the eve of the Feast of the Epiphany. In accordance with Italian folklore, she flies by way of the evening sky, delivering items to youngsters very like Santa Claus does on Christmas Eve. Nevertheless, La Befana’s story is far older and imbued with a darker, extra mystical aura.

The origins of La Befana’s legend are various and multifaceted, drawing from historic Roman, pagan, and Christian traditions, sources going again so far as the eighth century. Some say it advanced from the Sabine/Roman goddess named Strenia who symbolizes the brand new yr and the seasonal cycles linked to agriculture, or referring to the harvest of the previous yr, now able to be reborn as new.

Some imagine that Strenua is the origin of “Befana”. In Italian folklore Befana is an outdated witch that flies round Italy on a broomstick and comes down chimneys on Epiphany Eve (the evening of January 5) to ship items.On the twelfth evening after the winter solstice, the loss of life and rebirth of nature was celebrated by way of Mom Nature . The Romans believed that in these twelve nights, feminine figures flew over the cultivated fields, to propitiate the fertility of future crops, therefore the parable of the “flying” determine. In accordance with some, this feminine determine was first recognized in Diana , the lunar goddess not solely linked to recreation, but in addition to vegetation, whereas in keeping with others she was related to a minor divinity known as Sàtia (goddess of satiety), or Aboundia (goddess of abundance ). One other speculation would join the Befana with an historic Roman pageant, which all the time passed off in winter, in honor of Janus and Strenia (from which the time period “strenna” additionally derives) and through which items have been exchanged ^[9] .

One common model of the story recounts that La Befana was approached by the Three Smart Males throughout their journey to search out the new child Jesus after the Betlehem appeared within the sky. They requested for instructions, however La Befana, busy together with her house responsibilities, initially refused to assist. Later, feeling remorseful, she tried to search out the Smart Males and the infant Jesus, bringing items for the kid. Unable to search out them, she continues to seek for Jesus yearly, leaving items for kids within the hope that considered one of them may be the Christ little one.

The Spooky Side of La Befana

Whereas La Befana is usually seen as a benevolent determine, her look and sure features of her legend lend her a spooky, witch-like high quality. Wearing tattered garments, with a soot-covered face from climbing down chimneys, La Befana’s witch-like look contrasts sharply with the jolly determine of Santa Claus.

Her annual go to is just not and not using a contact of worry. Italian youngsters imagine that La Befana will go away a lump of coal or darkish sweet if they’ve been naughty, somewhat than the sweets and small items she bestows upon the well-behaved. The considered a witch visiting their dwelling at the hours of darkness could be as thrilling as it’s terrifying for younger youngsters.

Learn Extra: Take a look at all haunted legends from the Christmas Season

Furthermore, the picture of an outdated witch flying by way of the evening sky, broomstick in hand, evokes basic Halloween imagery, including a layer of spookiness to the festive season. The concept that she continues her everlasting seek for the Christ little one, yr after yr, wandering the darkish winter skies, offers her story a haunting, virtually ghostly dimension.

La Befana’s Rituals and Traditions

In Italy, the arrival of La Befana is widely known with numerous customs and traditions. On the evening of January fifth, youngsters hold stockings by the fireside and pass over meals and wine for La Befana, hoping to appease the witch and obtain her blessings. The subsequent morning, they eagerly examine their stockings for items or coal, relying on their conduct over the previous yr.

All through Italy, particularly within the areas of Rome and the encompassing Lazio space, cities and cities host Epiphany festivals and parades. Dolls are manufactured from her and effigies are burnt and bonfires are sometimes lit.  One of the vital well-known celebrations takes place in Urbania, the place 1000’s collect to have a good time La Befana with a grand pageant that includes avenue performers, music, and, in fact, the arrival of the Christmas witch herself.

La Befana in Fashionable Tradition

Regardless of her spooky undertones, La Befana stays a beloved determine in Italian tradition. She represents the mixing of historic traditions with fashionable festivities, embodying the spirit of each giving and penance. There may be even a Viva la Befana in Roma at St. Peter’s Sq. within the mornings.

Lately, La Befana has additionally develop into an emblem of feminine empowerment and independence, reflecting the power and resilience of the outdated girl who braves the winter evening alone. La Befana’s story is a captivating mix of caprice, thriller, and a touch of spookiness. As Italy’s Christmas witch, she provides a novel and eerie allure to the festive season, reminding us that the magic of Christmas is not only about pleasure and lightweight, but in addition concerning the mysteries that lurk within the shadows Her story continues to captivate and enchant, making certain that the Christmas witch will stay an everlasting a part of Italy’s wealthy cultural heritage.

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