Who Is La Befana?

You’ve heard of Elphaba or Elphie, the Wicked Witch of the West, but have you met La Befana, the Christmas Witch of Italy? She’s not green—don’t you worry—but she’s just as fascinating and magical and special. If you love the idea of extra holiday presents, La Befana is someone you should definitely know about.

Who is La Befana?

In Italian folklore, La Befana is an old woman who is like a witch. Not really a bad witch, no. More like “the Christmas Witch.” She delivers presents, mostly chocolate treats, to children all over Italy the night before Epiphany. Since Epiphany falls on January 6th, Befana is known to fly across the Italian night skies on January 5th.

How does La Befana look?

According to stories, Befana appears to be a very old woman. She wraps herself with a dark shawl and wears a kerchief on her head. Her clothes are maybe a bit ragged and tattered. She carries a broomstick with her to sweep the floor with and to sweep last year’s problems away. However, the broom isn’t just for sweeping because she also uses the broom to fly away as she visits houses all over Italy.

What does La Befana do?

The jolly old Santa Claus is known to deliver presents to nice children all over the world on Christmas Eve. And Befana is somewhat the same—except she doesn’t do the gift delivery during Christmas Eve. La Befana makes her visits on the eve of Epiphany, which happens on January 5th.

What treats does La Befana bring?

La Befana visits only after the children have gone to bed. She brings the good children gifts, treats, toys, trinkets, and sweets. She puts her presents in the children’s stockings (a special sock stocking called the Befana’s sock, aka la calza della Befana) hanging by the fireplace or by the tree or wherever the stockings are placed.

To the children who have been naughty and misbehaving throughout the year, La Befana leaves them with a clove of garlic, a lump of coal, some stones, a handful of onions, or sometimes even a smattering of straw from her broom.

Do children leave milk and cookies for La Befana?

Nope, children do not leave milk and cookies for Befana. Those are strictly for Santa Claus or Babbo Natale. Instead, Befana is left with refreshments like a small glass of wine and a little plate of food with bread, sausages, and other local Christmas treats like pandoro, panettone, and Befanini cookies.

La Befana vien di notte (The Befana comes at night)

La Befana vien di notte con le scarpe tutte rotte, col vestito alla romana. Viva, viva, la Befana! Colla scopa di saggina. Viva viva la nonnina!