Long ago, on the night before the birth of Jesus, the Three Wise Men traveled across the land, following a brilliant star to bring precious gifts to the newborn Savior. As they journeyed, they passed a small, humble house and stopped to ask for directions. This house belonged to Befana, an elderly woman known throughout the region for her diligence and tidiness, always busy sweeping her floors with her trusty broom and tending to her household chores.
The Three Wise Men invited Befana to join them on their sacred journey to visit the Christ child. She politely declined, explaining that she had too many tasks at home: the floors needed sweeping and the fabrics she was weaving had to be finished.
After the Wise Men continued on their journey, Befana felt an unusual tug at her heart. She realized she had missed the most important opportunity of her life. Filled with sudden urgency, she gathered all the sweetest treats she could find, took up her beloved broom, and hurried after the path the Wise Men had taken. She searched through the night, but the footprints were gone and the guiding star had vanished. No matter how far she traveled, she could not find the place where Jesus was born.
From that night forward, Befana made a solemn promise. If she could not find the Christ child, she would give gifts to all children, believing that every child carries a spark of goodness and holiness within. Each year, on the night of January 5th, the eve of Epiphany, La Befana flies across the rooftops of Italy on her broom. She enters homes through chimneys, leaving sweets and small gifts in the stockings of well-behaved children. For those who have been naughty, she leaves a lump of coal, though in modern times this is often replaced with black sugar candy as a gentle reminder to improve.
Before leaving each home, Befana sweeps the floors with her broom, a symbolic act of clearing away misfortune and troubles from the old year to start the new one with cleanliness and peace. This act has made her beloved among Italian households, where she is seen as a caring, protective figure rather than a fearsome witch.
La Befana is easily recognized by her simple, worn clothing. She wears an old, patched coat, a scarf wrapped over her head, and carries the dust and soot of countless chimneys. She is a humble and private figure, and if a child tries to spy on her, she may gently tap their nose with her broom to teach a lesson about respecting privacy.
Through her story, La Befana reminds us that kindness, generosity, and attention to the small rituals of daily life are as sacred as the greatest journeys of the heart. Every year, her flight across the Italian skies brings joy, treats, and a little magic to children everywhere.