Early in the New Year in Italy comes the festival of Epiphany - when La Befana takes to her broomstick.
New Year’s Day 2008.
Chances are you’ve either got a thumping hangover headache, and a mouth that feels like the bottom of a budgie’s cage;
are covered with Nicorette patches and are snarling at everyone because you’ve given up smoking (do you think they have patches for people who have to live with someone who’s giving up smoking?);
or are squeezing yourself into something unflattering in lycra in order to go for a jog and start your new ‘get fit’ regime.
Christmas is now officially over – in Britain at least.
But in Italy (and many other countries), traditions are still very much alive - and there’s still one big day to come. Epiphany – the 6th January. This was the traditional 12th day of Christmas. The day when the Three Wise Men were said to have arrived in Bethlehem - with their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. So, on the night of 5th January, children in Italy hang up their Christmas stockings, ready to receive their gifts early on the 6th. These gifts aren’t delivered by Father Christmas and his reindeer, but by La Befana.
La Befana is a good witch, who whizzes around on her broomstick distributing goodies. It’s said that she lost her way looking for the manger that first Christmas.
Epiphany is still an important public holiday in Italy. In Britain it’s the day that Christmas decorations are taken down (it’s considered unlucky to leave them up longer).
