Every year on January 6th, Epiphany is celebrated in Italy. It is a Christian holiday to remember and celebrate the visit of the Three Wise Men to the baby Jesus. Just as the Western culture celebrates Santa Claus delivering presents to children on Christmas Eve during the same time the birth of Jesus is celebrated, Italians celebrate La Befana during the time of Epiphany. La Befana is an old woman, a witch like figure, who flies on a broomstick and leaves presents in children’s socks or stockings on the eve of Epiphany. She leaves candy, fruit and other small presents for children who have been good, and a lump of coal (carbone), onions or garlic for children who have been bad.
La Befana … Seems a little scary to me, but the Italian children seem to embrace her.
Each year a market is held in Piazza Navona and is centered around the tales and traditions of La Befana. It is mainly a children’s market as the piazza is transformed into a child’s paradise. The stalls or booths that line the piazza are filled with candies, toys, balloons, stockings, tree ornaments and Befana dolls and decorations. There is also a large carousel in the center of the piazza for the children to ride. Throughout the month of December, and especially after the New Year holiday, it seems all the families and young children of Rome flock to Piazza Navona to celebrate the coming of La Befana.
La Befana stockings to be filled on the Eve of Epiphany
Candy, candy, candy galore … treats to fill the stockings of good little boys and girls.
Marzipan (marzapane in Italian) is a sweet treat primarily made of sugar and almond meal. It is a traditional holiday treat in Italy.
