The main exchange of gifts takes place on January 6,
the feast of the Epiphany, the celebration in remembrance of the Magi's
visit to the Christ Child. Children anxiously await a visit from La Befana
who brings gifts for the good and punishment for the bad. According to legend,
La befana was asked to accompany the wise men but declined as she was busy
cleaning her home (a obsession with this old woman)and could not leave
until she was finished. The wise men left without her, she promising to
catch up with them when she was finished cleaning. By the time she
finished, however, the wise men were long gone. She frantically began
running after them with gifts for the Christ child, still carrying her
broom. Magically, she began to fly on her broom but could not find the wise
men or the Chrsit child. Instead she leaves gifts for other children,
treats for those who are good and coal for those who are not so good, but
in reality every child receives a piece of coal as well as a treat as we
could all do better, right?
A special thanks to Sam Ciapanna, president of the
Dante Alighieri Society of Washington, an Italian
cultural organization in Seattle with nearly 400 members for furnishing
the information about La Befana.
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