La Befana is an old women or as the italian children tell me a good witch, who delivers lollies, chocolates and small presents to children in Italy on the night of january 5th.
If the children have been good all year they receive lollies and chocolates in their socks, if the children have been bad they receive lumps of coal.
La Bafana is also a good Italian house keeper so she will sweep the floors before she leaves.
La Befana symbolises the end of the Christmas and New Year season and it is a fresh start for the children, they now get a clean slate to start the new year being good.
Currently in Piazza Navona, there is a big Christmas Market and there are lots of La Befana's for sale.
I had to buy a La Befana as i have decided to start this tradition in my home.
Any tradition that encourages the gift giving of chocolate and lollies i am going to strongly support.
In my home La Befana is going to visit 24 year olds too.
Starting from this year, La Befana is a new tradition Matt and i are going to follow.
La Befana vien di notte
con le scarpe tutte rotte
col vestito alla romana
viva,viva La Befana!
The English translation is:
The Befana comes by night,
with her shoes all tattered and torn,
she comes dressed in the Roman way
long life to the Befana!
Here is my La Befana
