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	Befana - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
		Befana or "La Befana" is a friendly character in Italian folklore, similar to Santa Claus.
		Her name means 'giver of gifts', and she visits all the children in Italy on January 6 to fill their stockings with candy if they are good or a lump of coal if they are bad.
		Legend has it that La Befana was approached by the 3 Magi on the night of Christ's birth.
	en.wikipedia.org /wiki/Befana (247 words)

	Selvet.dk - La befana, en hedensk tradition (Site not responding. Last check: 2007-10-17)
		Befana fills up stockings with nuts and fruit and brings presents for all the good children, and a lump of coal for the not-so-good children.
		Through Befana´s timeless visits to the family hearth, her function is that of reaffirming the bond between the family and the ancestors through an exchange of gifts.
		Befana appears in street processions as a masked figure with her consort Befano.
	www.selvet.dk /forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=2733 (849 words)

	La Befana
		Some images connected to the figure of the Befana are revealed in an archaic agricultural context when the homes became stable and the cult of domestic folklore was established.
		Once the link between the figure of the Befana and the ancestral spirits is established, the Befana presents herself during the big holiday as a mythical ancestress who returns yearly.
		Besides the link with the cult of the hearth, the Befana personifies a close link to fire itself, whether astral (brought from the stars, appearing as a meteor) or earthly (for example on the eve of the Befana holiday, bonfires are lit to burn her figure).
	www.floria-publications.com /italy/life_and_customs/la_befana.html (716 words)

	BEFANA - LoveToKnow Article on BEFANA
		Tradition relates that she was too busy with house duties to come to the window to see the Three Wise Men of the East pass on their journey to pay adoration to the Saviour, Ixcusing herself on the ground that she could see them on their return.
		They went back another way, and Befana is alleged to have been punished by being obliged to look for them for iver.
		Her legends seem to be rather mixed, for in spite of her Santa Claus character, her name is used by Italian mothers as a bogey to frighten the babies.
	www.1911encyclopedia.org /B/BE/BEFANA.htm (164 words)

	Befana Good Witch
		Befana, in some versions of the story, runs so fast seeking Jesus that she eventually takes off and flies, using her broom for steering.
		Over the centuries, Befana came to be identified as a witch, probably because of other, less savory old ladies flying in the area with brooms.
		Nobody knows the real name of the Befana -- according to many Befana theorists, Befana is merely a corruption of the name of the Epiphany feast on which she is most active.
	www.mmdtkw.org /VBefana.html (719 words)

	The Legend of La Befana
		The night is January 5 each year and the morning of January 6, children all over Italy find their stockings filled with sweet curly candy for being very good or a dark piece of coal if they have been bad.
		During the night of La Befana’s visit, she is hosted by each family with a plate containing broccoli and spice sausage plus a small glass of wine.
		In modern time, La Befana is only seen on rare occasions and indeed lives in the imaginations of small children.
	www.twilightbridge.com /hobbies/festivals/christmas/epiphany/la_befana.htm (387 words)

	-- Beliefnet.com (Site not responding. Last check: 2007-10-17)
		La Befana is a tall old woman with a red shawl and a bent branch broom that goes sweep-swep-sweep.
		She lives in a thin wooden house with a round-topped door in the shadows of the dark purple mulberry trees.
		La Befana has a long nose and a hump on her back.
	www.beliefnet.com /story/59/story_5920_1.html (378 words)

	John D. Calandra Italian American Institute: Community Affairs
		One night, Befana notices a bright light in the sky, she thinks nothing of it and goes back to her work of sweeping and baking.
		And so, every year on the eve of the Epiphany, whenever Befana comes to a house where there is a child, she drops in to see if it might be the child she seeks.
		For Befana has come to realize, over the years, that her searching is not vain, that in a way the Christ Child can be found in all children.
	qcpages.qc.cuny.edu /calandra/community/commbefa.html (629 words)

	The Befana tradition
		The name "Befana" is a popular version of the Greeek term "Epiphany" which was the festivity following Christmas, commemorating the visit of the Magi to the Baby Jesus on 6th January.
		The Befana is also related to the mysterious rites of the Celtic peoples once inhabiting the whole Pianura Padana and part of the Alps, when wicker puppets were set on fire in honor of ancient gods.
		The "coal" that she would leave to the nasty children was actually also a symbol of fertility connected to the sacred bonfires and the "ceppo".
	www.abruzzo2000.com /abruzzo/traditions/christmas/befana.htm (1217 words)

	La Befana: The Witch of Christmas (Site not responding. Last check: 2007-10-17)
		The legend of Befana began thousands of years ago and remains to this day a tradition practised by Italian children and their families.
		In fact, Befana’s name is the Greek word “epifania” or “epiphany,” and is significant because the religious feast of the Epiphany is celebrated on January 6th.
		Water prepared on the eve of the Epiphany (the night that Befana flies the skies) is said to have sacred properties that can ward off evil spirits and is used in critical moments of a family’s life.
	collections.ic.gc.ca /OttawaItalians/Heritage/befana.htm (522 words)

	<yomag.net> The BEFANA (Site not responding. Last check: 2007-10-17)
		The Befana, this is her name, is an ugly woman with an old dark dress, an apron, a shawl on her hair and worn shoes.
		According to the tradition, which is typically Italian, the Befana comes in the night between 5 and 6 of January, that is to say on Epiphany, and brings every kind of sweets and little toys to the children.
		For example, this winter I have seen a lot of hook-nosed witches of every size, colourful, even noisy and moving Befanas, whose bodies are made of wood, while the clothes are hand-sewn.
	www.yomag.net /db/8470 (415 words)

	Body and Soul: On The Twelfth Day of Christmas (Site not responding. Last check: 2007-10-17)
		Befana is a grumpy old woman who works too hard, always sweeping and baking and sweeping again.
		Befana doesn't have time to be bothered with fairy tales about kings who care about people like her.
		No real Santas or La Befana here in Japan like the ol' St. Nick that visited me and my siblings years ago, so maybe new myths need to be dreamed and practiced and retained in living memory, myths of real passion and feeling in the spirit of giving from one's heart.
	bodyandsoul.typepad.com /blog/2004/01/on_the_twelfth_.html (2942 words)

	La Befana - Italiansrus.com
		La Befana is one of Italy's oldest and most celebrated legends.
		This is a significant day to Italians because it marks the end of the Christmas season and the day that the three Wise Men arrived at the manger of the Christ child.
		She stops at each child's house to leave those who were good treats in their stockings and those who were bad a lump of coal.
	www.italiansrus.com /articles/befana.htm (448 words)

	descrip_befana (Site not responding. Last check: 2007-10-17)
		The "Befana", for cildren, is a person created by the popular imagination and she is described as a good and generous old lady,with
		The Befana comes at night, with her broken shoes, her roman-style hat, hurray, hurray, to the Befana.
		La Befana vien di notte, con le scarpe tutte rotte, il cappelo alla romana, viva viva la Befana.
	www.mercurio.it /ales/comenius/descripbefana.htm (135 words)

	Italy Public Holidays: la Befana
		La Befana was an old Italian lady who spent her days cleaning and scrubbing her house.
		They stopped to rest with La Befana and before they left they invited the old lady to come with them and meet the infant king.
		She wanted to get back to her cleaning and felt she had wasted enough time as it was.
	www.italytravelescape.com /befana.htm (1053 words)

	Italy (Site not responding. Last check: 2007-10-17)
		It is commonly known as "La Befana" (Epiphany).
		La Befana is an old lady with a big nose and a red mole on top of it.
		The next day, together with the presents she left also a drawing of herself, she is exactly as I imagined her.
	www.zuzu.org /italy.html (319 words)

	Advent 20 Befana (Site not responding. Last check: 2007-10-17)
		On Twelfth Night children hide notes to the "good witch" La Befana in the chimney, and place Befana dolls in their windows, welcoming her to their house.
		She brings presents for all the good children but just a lump of coal for the naughty ones.
		At the end of the celebration, the Befana dolls are burned upon a hilltop in a pyramid of corn sheaves, brushwood, and pine branches.
	www.bluelantern.org /advent_20.htm (135 words)

	La Befana - A to Z Teacher Stuff Forums
		JenPooh, La Befana is a witch according to Italian lore that brings goodies to the children.
		Legend describes Befana as a tiny old woman dressed in fl and riding a broomstick from house to house on the eve of Epiphany.
		The stopped at Befana's house and asked her to go along, but she refused because she had so much work to do.
	forums.atozteacherstuff.com /showthread.php?threadid=15647 (388 words)

	Wisconsinmade: Product: 'The Legend of Old Befana'
		Ken Lonnquist offers this cassette, "The Legend of Old Befana," a musical story based on an ancient holiday tradition, featuring 10 original songs and story narration.
		Its warmth and magic are a recipe for enchantment, stirring listeners of all ages with an illuminating spin on that familiar night of miracles: its three Kings, bright shining star, and a very special child.
		Befana doesn't know whether the child coming to make the world a better place is rich or poor, fl or white, boy or girl.
	www.wisconsinmade.com /wiscmade/product.asp?dept_id=67&pf_id=1001 (120 words)

	LA VERA STORIA DELLA BEFANA (Site not responding. Last check: 2007-10-17)
		La Befana, (termine che è corruzione di Epifania, cioè manifestazione) è nell’immaginario collettivo un mitico personaggio con l’aspetto da vecchia che porta doni ai bambini buoni la notte tra il 5 e il 6 gennaio.
		Nella società contadina e preindustriale, salvo rari casi, i doni consistevano in caramelle, dolcetti, noci e mandarini, insieme a dosi più o meno consistenti (a insindacabile giudizio della Befana) di cenere e carbone, come punizione delle inevitabili marachelle dell’anno.
		Dopo un periodo in cui era stata relegata nel dimenticatoio, ora la Befana sta vivendo una seconda giovinezza, legata alla riscoperta e alla valorizzazione delle antiche radici e della più autentica identità culturale.
	www.alanisfans.it /forum/index.php/topic,5652.0.html (1659 words)

	Duncan Royale Befana
		Befana, is a legendary female gift giver known to Italian children for almost two thousand years.
		The story is told that Befana, a very old and decrepit woman, refused to interrupt her household duties long enough to accept the invitation of the Magi to accompany them on their journey to find the Christchild.
		It seems the Magi needed a guide in their search and asked Befana to help them find the way; but she refused to leave her warm and immaculate house of which she wands very proud.
	www.christmas-treasures.com /duncan_royale/Collection/SantaII/Befana.htm (339 words)

	The Legend of Old Befana by Tomie dePaola (Ages 4-8) (Site not responding. Last check: 2007-10-17)
		Old Befana lived alone on the outskirts of a small town in Italy.
		One night, a light so bright that is lit up her shuttered room, woke her up; the next day, she heard the tinkling of bells and suddenly the most glorious procession she had ever seen passed by her house — camels and elephants and horses and men with jeweled crowns on her head.
		The Kings stopped to ask Old Befana if she knew the way to Bethlehem — she didn’t know the ways and she was too busy sweeping to answer their questions.
	www.lilypadbooks.com /scstore/p-OldBefana.html (183 words)

	Befana, La
		La Befana or St. Befana is 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.
		The name is said to be a corruption of Epiphany (Epiphania), but parts of the legend pre-date Christian times.
		Article "Befana, La" created on 01 January 1999; last modified on 25 December 1999 (Revision 2).
	www.pantheon.org /articles/b/befana.html (148 words)

	Befana (Site not responding. Last check: 2007-10-17)
		Befana was visited by the wisemen when they were searching for the Christ Child.
		They asked her to join them, but she was too busy with housework.
		Now each year on the Feast of the Epiphany, Befana visits all children in Italy, leaving gifts.
	www.whittlershollow.com /befana.htm (90 words)

	In Italy Online - Christmas Issue
		La Befana was asked to join them but declined three times.
		It took an unusually bright light and a band of angels to convince La Befana that she must join the Wise Men, but she was too late.
		On January 6, the Feast of Epiphany, La Befana goes out on her broom to drop off stockings filled with treats to all the sleeping children of Italy.
	www.initaly.com /regions/xmas/xmas.htm (764 words)

	Holidays & Festivals > Epiphany in Italy
		The Epiphany in Italy means that a good witch, La Befana, may visit your house and bring you candy or a piece of charcoal.
		The celebration is all about a good witch called "La Befana" who comes around on that day putting candy in your socks-- but of course, only if you leave your socks hanging beside the fireplace.
		Now they say she disguises herself as a good witch who we call "La Befana" who rides on a broomstick looking for the baby Jesus, leaving candy for children on her way.
	www.internet-at-work.com /hos_mcgrane/holidays/2_giulia.html (538 words)

	The Christmas Befana
		Each year on the Feast of the Epiphany, the Christmas Befana visits all children in Italy, leaving gifts of sweet breads, cakes and cookies.
		The legend of Befana, illustrated by a Rhode island artist, is recreated in a series of collectibles:
		A finely etched representation of the Befana illustration is created in 14K electro gold-plate medallion to hang from the holiday tree.
	christmasbefana.com (228 words)

	virtualitalia.com - la befana
		Ever since, La Befana has flown through the night sky on the Eve of the Epiphany, delivering goodies to children, hoping one of them is the Christ child.
		She knows no child has been perfect all year, so tomorrow morning they’ll find their stockings filled with a mix of treats -- coal (actually delicious fl rock candy), maybe onions, olive oil, and finally they’ll dig to the bottom and find chocolates and caramels.
		We buy our LA friends Befanas, wanting to share with them the spirit of this Christmastime bonus - wanting them to believe as Italians believe, as we believe: that La Befana will fly through the sky tonight, sweeping away last year’s troubles with her broom, bringing us the hope of a sweeter, brighter new year.
	www.virtualitalia.com /articles/befana.shtml (686 words)

	virtualitalia.com - the new year
		During your visit you may experience service and page interruptions - we are in the process of fixing everything and hope to be fully back on our feet soon.
		January 5th is an important night for Italian children: The Befana, a frightful witch, will mount her broom and fly through the sky to fill their stockings, with candy if they've been good, and with coal if they've not.
		Her arrival is often celebrated with the first batch of a traditional Carnival pastry known by a variety of names, including Cenci (rags) in Florence and Frappe in Rome; Ada Boni, who borrows Pellegrino Artusi's recipe, uses the more poetic "Lover's Knots." They are very pretty when carefully made, so she is probably right.
	www.virtualitalia.com /recipes/epiphany.shtml (370 words)

	La Befana the Christmas Witch - Limited Edition (Site not responding. Last check: 2007-10-17)
		New for 2004 is La Befana the Christmas Witch
		On Halloween, Befana is busy preparing for her Christmas rounds while all her witch friends are flying around scaring kids.
		Although Santa doesn’t need the help, he appreciates Befana’s good tidings during Christmas and loves her magical toy bag that never runs out of toys.
	www.rfstudio.com /befana.html (108 words)

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