La Befana
Today is the traditional day that we celebrate the Feast of the Epiphany. Here in the USA we have transfered it to Sunday. This is the day we commemorate the arrival of the Magi in Bethlehem. In Italy it is also the day that children receive gifts, not from Santa, but from La Befana. There are many versions of the story. Last year I took my turn at it. Here is the story of La Befana:
Even though the bones of S. Nicholas were stolen from Myra in 1087 by merchants and brought to Bari, Santa Claus doesn't visit the children of Italy. Instead, each year the children look forward to the visit of La Befana. This is her story.
Long ago, at the time Christ was born, there was una vecchia (an old woman) who lived alone. Her husband had died and she had no children to care for her. Each day she would clean her house, gather the twigs she needed to cook and do her baking. Still, she was very lonely.
One day as she was leaving to gather her wood she saw a caravan approaching. It was the Magi. One of the servants came over and asked if his master could talk to her. She approached the wise man. He told her that they had traveled far in search of Il Bambino, the newborn King of the Jews, the Christ Child. They had come with gifts to honor him. She told him that she had heard nothing about him. Then the wise man invited her to join them on their journey.
She apologized. "I'm sorry, but I have too much work to do. I haven't the time to join you. I need to gather wood so that I might get my baking done." With that, they said farewell and left.
Quickly she began to regret not going with the Magi. Leaving the twigs she found she went home. There she gathered a few small things she had that she new a small child might like. She put them in a bag, took her broom and began to travel in the same direction as the Magi.
Whenever she met anyone, she inquired about them. Always she had just missed them. But she didn't give up. She kept searching and searching.
Time passed, years, decades, centuries. Still she searched. Eventually she reached Italy. On Christmas Eve of 1223. When she got there, there was a big commotion. She asked someone what was going on.
He replied: "The Holy Man, Francesco Bernadone (We know him as St. Francis) has set up a presipio (manger). There you can see the newborn King of the Jews."
She was excited. At last she had reached her goal. As she approached the site she saw a camel. The man next to it looked familiar. He was wearing the same clothing as the Wise Man she had talke to so long ago. Waiting her turn she drew near to the crib. It was then that she saw that Il Bambino was a wax figure. Puzzled, she asked someone why this was so. She was told that this was merely a reenactment of an event that had occured over 1200 years ago.
Disappointed and in shock she just stood there. When everyone had left, she began to cry. Her heart was breaking from the sorrow she felt.
Suddenly she heard a noise and saw a glow from the crib. A gentle voice told her to come near. Scared, she slowly approached and looked into the crib. The statue had come to life.
"Why are you crying?" it asked.
She replied: "I have been looking all these years for Il Bambino. I thought I had finally found Him. I am so tired and weary from searching. The disappointment is just too much."
Il Bambino said: "Dry your tears. From heaven I heard your cry and have come to you. I am grateful for the gifts you have brought me, but I no longer have any use for them. There are many children who have no toys. You can give the toys to them."
Overjoyed, she began to do as she was told. At first people were afraid of her. She was old and traveled with a broom so they thought she was a witch. they refused to welcome her. Some even threw stones at her to drive her away. Eventually people began to realize the truth. Sooon children began to look forward to her visit on the Eve of Epiphany. Since no one knew her name people began to call her La Befana from the Italian word for Epiphany. To this day, she still travels all over Italy honoring Il Bambino, the Christ Child by leaving presents for all the children. She is no longer lonely, but is very happy to bring joy and share her love with them.
Even though the bones of S. Nicholas were stolen from Myra in 1087 by merchants and brought to Bari, Santa Claus doesn't visit the children of Italy. Instead, each year the children look forward to the visit of La Befana. This is her story.
Long ago, at the time Christ was born, there was una vecchia (an old woman) who lived alone. Her husband had died and she had no children to care for her. Each day she would clean her house, gather the twigs she needed to cook and do her baking. Still, she was very lonely.
One day as she was leaving to gather her wood she saw a caravan approaching. It was the Magi. One of the servants came over and asked if his master could talk to her. She approached the wise man. He told her that they had traveled far in search of Il Bambino, the newborn King of the Jews, the Christ Child. They had come with gifts to honor him. She told him that she had heard nothing about him. Then the wise man invited her to join them on their journey.
She apologized. "I'm sorry, but I have too much work to do. I haven't the time to join you. I need to gather wood so that I might get my baking done." With that, they said farewell and left.
Quickly she began to regret not going with the Magi. Leaving the twigs she found she went home. There she gathered a few small things she had that she new a small child might like. She put them in a bag, took her broom and began to travel in the same direction as the Magi.
Whenever she met anyone, she inquired about them. Always she had just missed them. But she didn't give up. She kept searching and searching.
Time passed, years, decades, centuries. Still she searched. Eventually she reached Italy. On Christmas Eve of 1223. When she got there, there was a big commotion. She asked someone what was going on.
He replied: "The Holy Man, Francesco Bernadone (We know him as St. Francis) has set up a presipio (manger). There you can see the newborn King of the Jews."
She was excited. At last she had reached her goal. As she approached the site she saw a camel. The man next to it looked familiar. He was wearing the same clothing as the Wise Man she had talke to so long ago. Waiting her turn she drew near to the crib. It was then that she saw that Il Bambino was a wax figure. Puzzled, she asked someone why this was so. She was told that this was merely a reenactment of an event that had occured over 1200 years ago.
Disappointed and in shock she just stood there. When everyone had left, she began to cry. Her heart was breaking from the sorrow she felt.
Suddenly she heard a noise and saw a glow from the crib. A gentle voice told her to come near. Scared, she slowly approached and looked into the crib. The statue had come to life.
"Why are you crying?" it asked.
She replied: "I have been looking all these years for Il Bambino. I thought I had finally found Him. I am so tired and weary from searching. The disappointment is just too much."
Il Bambino said: "Dry your tears. From heaven I heard your cry and have come to you. I am grateful for the gifts you have brought me, but I no longer have any use for them. There are many children who have no toys. You can give the toys to them."
Overjoyed, she began to do as she was told. At first people were afraid of her. She was old and traveled with a broom so they thought she was a witch. they refused to welcome her. Some even threw stones at her to drive her away. Eventually people began to realize the truth. Sooon children began to look forward to her visit on the Eve of Epiphany. Since no one knew her name people began to call her La Befana from the Italian word for Epiphany. To this day, she still travels all over Italy honoring Il Bambino, the Christ Child by leaving presents for all the children. She is no longer lonely, but is very happy to bring joy and share her love with them.
Labels: La Befana
posted by Al @ 11:10 PM
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