In Italy, l’Epifania (Epiphany) is a religious holiday observed on Jan 6. This holiday is colloquially called la Befana, and “Buona Befana!” is the greeting people use.
La Befana is a strega nonna (grandmother-witch) who comes on the eve of Epiphany, the night between January 5th and 6th. Italy’s beloved strega nonna flies in on a manico di scopa (broomstick), entering children’s homes via the camini (chimneys) and leaving little regali e caramelle (presents and treats) for good children, carbone (coal) for the cattivi (naughty ones).
Italian children memorize verses about la Befana and recite them for their families.
Most popular :
La Befana vien di notte / La Befana comes in the night
con le scarpe tutte rotte / With her shoes all broken
con le toppe alla sottana / With patches on her petticoat
Viva, viva la Befana! / Hurrah, hurrah, La Befana!
Another version:
Viene, viene la Befana / Here comes, here comes the Befana
Vien dai monti a notte fonda / She comes from the mountains in the deep of night
Neve e gelo la circondan. / Snow and frost surround her
Neve e gelo e tramontana, / Snow and frost and the west wind
Viene, viene la Befana! / Here comes, here comes the Befana!
Popular saying:
La Befana, tutte le feste porta via! / The Befana, she takes all the holidays away!
This expression refers to the fact that l’Epifania on Jan 6 is the last holiday of the Italian Christmas season.
Learn more in these posts:
Leggenda della Befana / Italian Christmas Witch Legend
🎅 Natale: Who Brings the Presents in Italy? 🎁
Go here for a free lesson featuring a printable vocab list AND crossword puzzle!
