Probably not. La Befana is strictly linked to Italian folklore and has never ventured beyond Italy’s borders, unlike Santa Claus who has “invaded” the country every Christmas season in the past few decades, since the end of World War II, bringing presents to children and not only them.
Before that time, in Italy that was la Befana’s job ! It was she who surprised kids –just kids – with stockings stuffed with little goodies to satisfy their sweet tooth – candy and chocolate and, for those who could not afford that, the treats were delicious dried figs with almonds hidden inside and walnuts. Occasionally, there was even some coal for the “naughty” children, but even that was a sugary black something made to look like a lump of coal.
As opposed to Santa –a cheerful chubby white-haired man in a red and white suit and matching hat, La Befana is a smiling little old hag with a crooked nose and very few teeth dressed in ragged clothes and an old shawl and headscarf to keep her warm. Like Santa, she whizzes past –but on a broomstick ! – all by herself , carrying a sack or hamper full of sweets and/or little gifts. She doesn’t want to be seen when she comes on the night between the 5th and 6th of January, which is the feast of the Epiphany (a national holiday) when she delivers gifts to children all over Italy.
The name “Befana” is believed to derive from the Italians’ mispronunciation of the Greek word “epiphaneia”, which means “appearance” or “manifestation”. For Christians, the Epiphany is the celebration of God’s manifestation to the Gentiles. In fact, on that day, the Magi or Three Kings of Orient were the representatives of all peoples of the Earth paying homage in Bethlehem to the Christ Child, bringing precious gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.
When Christianity replaced paganism in Ancient Rome, many traditions were incorporated into the new creed. After all, pagans who embraced the Christian religion could not completely and immediately abandon their customs. The tradition of exchanging gifts around New Year’s is connected to an ancient Roman festivity in honour of the deities Ianaus and Strenia when Romans used to exchange gifts, notably sweets like figs, dates and honey. Moreover, as pointed out above, La Befana comes flying over the land at night just like female figures in Roman times that flew over the sown fields as a pagan propitiatory rite for fertility linked to agriculture going back to the 10th to 6th c. B.C. .
It was on the 12th night following the winter solstice that the Ancient Romans celebrated the death and rebirth of Mother Nature; this coincides with our Christian Epiphany celebrated on January 6th and in Italy with “la festa della Befana” ( Befana’s Day).
Like so many things in Italy, also La Befana is intertwined with traditions that go far back in time and are therefore veiled in an aura of mystery –even though at first glance they may appear as something obvious and even trivial. However, it must be added that modern-day globalization is having its impact as well: more often than not, nowadays La Befana dolls or images depict her wearing a pointed black hat that makes her look more like a scary witch typical of Halloween than a little old lady bringing gifts to kids on the occasion of the Epiphany…
Viva la Befana ! ( Long live La Befana !)
Sylvia Stastny-Terrone