La Befana è venuta!
La Befana è una simpatica strega italiana che porta dolcetti e regalini ai bambini per la festa dell'Epifania, il 6 gennaio. Secondo la leggenda, i Re Magi vennero dalla Befana la notte del 5 gennaio, e le dissero che andavano a vedere il Bambino Gesù. Le invitarono di andare con loro, ma lei stava spazzando la casa, e non poteva uscire prima di aver finito. Ma dopo aver rifiutato l'offerta di seguire i Re Magi, La Befana cambiò idea e voleva vedere il Bambino Gesù. Lasciò la casa in fretta con i doni per il bambino e con la sua scopa. Provò a trovare i Re Magi e il bambino Gesù, ma alla fine, non riuscì. Dunque, ogni notte del 5 gennaio, vola sulla scopa e porta le caramelle ai bambini buoni e il carbone ai bambini cattivi, mentre cercando il Bambino Gesù. Prima di andare a letto, ogni bambino appende un calzo per i regali, e lascia un bigliettino e un bicchiere di vino per La Befana.
La Befana è venuta da mia la notte scorsa, e mi ha portato i cioccolatini e anche un libro!
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La Befana came!
La Befana is a nice Italian witch who brings candy and small presents to children on Epiphany, January 6th. According to the legend, the Three Kings came to La Befana's house on the night of January 5th, and told her they were going to see the Baby Jesus. They invited her to come with them, but she was sweeping the house, and couldn't go out before she finished. But after having refused the offer to follow the Three Kings, La Befana changed her mind and wanted to see the Baby Jesus. She left the house in a hurry with presents for the baby and her broomstick. She tried to find the Three Kings and the Baby Jesus, but she never did. Therefore, every night of January the 5th, she flies on her broomstick and brings candy to good children and coal to bad children, while searching for the Baby Jesus. Before going to bed, every child hangs up a sock for the presents, and leaves a note and a glass of wine for La Befana.
La Befana came to my house last night, and she brought me chocolates and also a little book!
This chocolate truffle shaped like La Befana looks really big, but it's about the size of my hand
My new La Befana book
Several Befanas in the window of one of my favorite chocolate shops in Italy
But my favorite thing about Epiphany is that it means my birthday is coming in exactly one week!
Love,
Livia
Wow, that's a pretty cool tradition! I think I read about it in school once, actually. And happy early bithday! =)
ReplyDeleteNeat! I've heard of La Befana before, but I didn't know the story behind her. It's kind of sad that she never found the Baby Jesus...but I guess if she gets wine at all the houses she visits, maybe she doesn't mind too much. :-)
ReplyDeleteWhat a neat tradition! Learn something new everyday. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteIo amo la storia di 'La Befana,' ma...I just always seem to forget all about Epiphany. I get so busy with going back to school that it slips my mind. Oh well...forse Chiara ricorderà La Befana se lei viene alla mia scuola un giorno all'altro.
ReplyDeleteIo amo il tuo libro nuovo! E il cioccolato, c'è delizioso!
How interesting! I have never heard of that before. Thank you for telling me about it!! ^_^
ReplyDeleteToday is a wonderful day for you, isn't it? You have chocolate and a book and your birthday is in a week! =D
Love, Jane
That is so cool! W celebrate it too---mummy calls it Three Kings Day. We usually eat a cake like pastry with a little figurine of Jesus baked inside, whoever gets the slice with baby Jesus gets to wear a crown for the daY!
ReplyDeletecHOA
XOXOXOXO
THE 12OLDfASHIONdOLLS
We got visited by La Befana too!!! I got chocolates, almost exactly like yours.. and I got a little La Befana doll. Glad you had a wonderful Epiphany.
ReplyDelete-Alyosha and Hodel