29/11/2025
As we slide into the Christmas season, let’s take a little trip around the world and check out some of the coolest, quirkiest, most magical holiday folklore out there. 🧳🎅🌟
First stop on our festive adventure? 🇮🇹 Italy!
And the story we’re kicking things off with is none other than…
✨ The Legend of La Befana ✨
The Christmas season in Italy begins with the Novena—eight days before Christmas—and lasts all the way to the Feast of the Epiphany on January 6th. Traditionally, it’s a deeply spiritual time, less focused on gift-giving… until the arrival of La Befana!
Italian children certainly know of Santa (or Babbo Natale) and may receive small, useful gifts on Christmas Day. But in many regions, the real exchange of presents waits for the night of January 5th, when La Befana comes.
Before bed, children hang their stockings by the chimney, hoping La Befana will fill them with sweets and treats. If they’ve been naughty, she leaves carbone—hard black candy shaped like charcoal—as a gentle reminder to do better next year.
In return, families leave her a little offering: un goccia di grappa, pane e un po’ di formaggio to warm her bones on a long winter journey.
According to tradition, La Befana was a humble old woman living in a small shack at the time of Christ’s birth. One night, the Three Magi stopped at her door seeking directions and shelter as they traveled to find the newborn Jesus. Grateful for her hospitality, they invited her to join them—but she declined, saying she had chores to finish.
Later that night, she awoke to a brilliant light in the sky. Frightened yet moved, she took it as a heavenly sign and set out to follow the Magi. But she lost her way, never finding the Wise Men or the manger.
And so the story goes: every year on January 5th, the eve of Epiphany, La Befana takes to the skies once more, searching for the Christ Child. As she travels from house to house, she leaves gifts for sleeping children—just in case the Holy Child might be among them.
Where sould we go next?