La Befana

Being part Italian comes with some nice benefits, one being that the holidays aren't over yet. We're still waiting for La Befana's visit on the 6th. In anticipation, Ridley and I are reading "The Legend of Old Befana" by Tomie dePaola.

And in case you're wondering who La Befana is, have a read...

The Legend Of La Befana

Who is this old, ugly, withered woman flying around
Italy on a broom, visiting children each year on the
Day of Epiphany, January 6? Is she a fairy queen,
a witch or possibly a crone? And, what is her
connection to the Kings of the Magi, whose knowledge
of the stars guided them and their three symbolic
gifts, gold, incense and myrrh, to Baby Jesus.

When Italians celebrate the visit of the Magi to Bethlehem
on
Epiphany, the children expect La Befana, instead
of Santa Claus. At one time, before people understood
this extraordinary figure, they rang bells and blew glass
trumpets in an attempt to frighten her away.

She is certainly ancient because thousands and
thousands of years ago La Befana, already a bent woman
with white hair, lived in a tiny cottage outside Bethlehem.
She lived alone after her husband died and was sad
because she had no children to keep her company.
Some say that she also had a child who died.

One winter it was extremely cold and the poor people
of the village suffered very much. La Befana would have
to venture outdoors whenever her firewood became in
short supply. While returning from the woods with a
bundle of firewood one evening she noticed an unusually
bright star in the sky. It was fascinating and she sat on
a large fallen tree to observe it, but La Befana knew
not to delay too long because the cold would chill her
old bones and make walking difficult.

Later that night La Befana heard voices outside her cottage.
She opened the door to find a caravan of people riding
camels and mules passing by her cottage. They spoke
in a strange tongue and were dressed in a fashion she
had never seen. At the end of the procession were three
elderly men riding together on camels. One of them called
out to La Befana and inquired if they were on the road to
Bethlehem. After telling the man that it was indeed the
road to Bethlehem she added that they would find no
lodging there because people had come for the census.
The man responded that they were not coming to be
counted, but were seeking the Baby Jesus and invited
La Befana to join them. La Befana refused them, saying
that she was busy. Later that night a passing shepherd
her to join him in paying respect to the Baby Jesus.
Again, La Befana said no.

Later, realizing that the three men were not ordinary
travelers, but Magi, and watching the star become
brighter and brighter in the dark of night, La Befana
realized something wonderful was about to happen.
Knowing that she should have gone with the caravan,
she became distraught and started to cry. She knew
that she must find the Baby Jesus and quickly started
down the road to find the caravan or the shepherd
and join them.

Along the way she asked peasants and shepherds if they
saw the caravan or had any news of the Baby Jesus. She
was told story after story of angelic beings, of the sky
being filled with light, and of hearing music coming from
the sky. She then learned of the newborn Saviour, born
in a stable in Bethlehem.

Sad and tired La Befana took shelter under a large tree.
She was approached by the shepherd who spoke with her
at her cottage. He claimed to have a message for her from
the Magi. The shepherd said that the Magi had told him
that the old women would follow and that they had
mandated that she never give up searching until she found
the Baby Jesus and paid her respects to him. As the
shepherd spoke La Befana was consumed by a burning
desire to find the Baby Jesus and realized that nothing
else mattered.

La Befana's search takes her to many, many places.
She realizes that the only way to succeed is to visit every
child. She got an old sack and filled it with toys. The sack
must be magical because it always has toys in it and it
is never too heavy for La Befana to carry.

Now, each year she looks for the Christ Child. And each
vear, since she can not find him, she leaves the gifts for
the good children of Italy and pieces of charcoal for
the bad ones.

By Stephen J. Saviello
Copyright 1998, 1999, 2000
All Rights Reserved
Permission granted for use in non-commercial, for free
publications, as long as full attribution is provided.