Befana (La Befana; S. Befana)
Part of The Encyclopedia of Southern Italy.
Befana (La Befana; S. Befana): an ugly but good-natured old hag who leaves presents in the stockings of children on the eve of the Epiphany (the Twelfth Night) in parts of Italy and Sicily. In Christian legend, the tree kings passed an old lady on their way to adore the Christ Child. They invited her to accompany them but she was too busy cleaning her house and did not come with them. Later, she attempted to follow, but became lost among the way and never saw the Holy Child. Every year she comes looking for him. She visits the children while they sleep and fills their stockings, giving the good ones candy and the bad ones only stones or charcoal. It is also a common practice for an image of Befana made of rags to be hung outside the home on January 5.Although the name is probably a corruption of Epiphany (Epiphania), it is likely that parts of the legend pre-date Christian times.