Befana
In Italian folklore, the Befana is a witch-like old woman who delivers gifts to children throughout Italy on Epiphany Eve (the night of January 5) in a similar way to Santa Claus or the Three Magi. She is a widespread tradition among Italians and thus has many names. The Befana brings gifts to good children, typically sweets, candies or toys, but coal to bad children.
↻ synthesized from 3 sources
When
Relationships
- co occurs with
- Strina, Knecht Ruprecht, Parkelj, Klaubauf, Bartel, Pelzebock, Pelznickel, Belzeniggl, Belsnickel, Schmutzli, Rumpelklas, Bellzebub, Hans Muff, Drapp, Buzebergt, Zwarte Piet, čert, anděl, Rubbels, Hanstrapp, Père Fouettard, Old Man Winter, Babbo Natale, Santa Lucia, Castaldo, Castaldòn, Gesù bambino, Los Reyes Magos, Krampus, Father Christmas
- serves
- Baby Jesus, Saint Nicholas
- consort of
- Befano
- allied with
- Count of Buon’Umor
- syncretized with
- Perchta
Mentioned by
Sources
Source passages
“Dolls and effigies of the Befana are commonly made. The former are black and are considered lucky, possibly as a result of their black color. They are ugly in appearance and "made of rags". On Twelfth Night in Rome, these dolls are placed in windows by women and children and on Epiphany, "in some Tuscan villages a large effigy of her [the Befana] was burnt."”
#5893 · extracted by google/gemini-2.0-flash-001
“Befana;”
#34398 · extracted by google/gemini-2.0-flash-001
“In Italy, for example, there are Babbo Natale ("Father Christmas", a local version of Santa Claus) and the Befana, a witch-like old lady that rides a broomstick and brings candies on Epiphany's eve.”
#38335 · extracted by google/gemini-2.0-flash-001