12/30/2025
~ Honoring the Feminine Figures of this Season in Ancient Tradition and Folklore ~
โจLa Befanaโจ
The ancient origins of Befana may be connected to the Sabine/Roman goddess Strenia who presided over the new year, purification, and well-being. It was customary to exchange gifts on January 1st, at a festival in honour of Ianus and Strenia (in Italian a Christmas gift used to be called strenna). Befana also has many similarities to Berchta, of the pre-Christian Alpine regions.
In later times, this winter weather diety was woven into Christian tradition in this story: When the three magi were traveling eastward, they were stopped by an old woman with a broom who asked where they were going. They told her they were following a star that would lead them to a newborn babe who would grow to redeem the world, and invited her to come along. The old woman replied that she was too busy sweeping and cleaning to go. Later she regretted her decision, and during the first week of January, she continues to wander about Italy, searching for the child, and leaving gifts for good children, and coal or ash for children who need improvement.
Viene, viene la Befana!
Vien dai monti a notte fonda
Come eฬ stanca! la circonda
Neve e gelo e tramontana!
Viene, viene la Befana
๐ธ๐ธ๐ธ
Here comes, here comes the Befana!
She comes from the mountains in the deep of night.
Look how tired she is! All wrapped up
In snow and frost and the north wind!
Here comes, here comes the Befana!
๐ธ๐ธ๐ธ
La Befana vien di notte,
con le scarpe tutte rotte,
ai bambini piccolini,
lascia tanti cioccolatini
ai bambini cativoni,
lascia cenere e carboni.
๐ธ๐ธ๐ธ
The Befana comes at night
In worn-out shoes.
For the small, little children
she leaves a lot of little chocolates,
For the bad little children,
she leaves ashes and coal.
SistersFullMoonCircle
