Editing 2011 Xmas Spectacular

The Epiphany is an important date for the people of Italy. In fact, it is a public holiday. On January 5th, the eve of the Epiphany (the Epiphany celebrates Jesus' incarnation [a quite appropriate word for this particular podcast] as Son of God on Earth; for Western Christians that's when the Magi arrive at Jesus and He is manifested before the Gentiles.), La Befana visits the children of Italy.

Befana is an old witch (broom and all) who stuffs children's socks with lollies if they've been good or coal if they've been bad. Being a good housekeeper, many say she will sweep the floor before she leaves, though seeing as she enters through chimneys most of what she sweeps is probably soot she's tracked in herself. The child's family typically leaves a small glass of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wine wine] and a plate with a few morsels of food, often regional or local, for the Befana.

Christian legend had it that Befana was approached by the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biblical_magi biblical magi], also known as the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_Wise_Men Three Wise Men] (or the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_kings three kings]) a few days before the birth of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infant_Jesus Infant Jesus]. They asked for directions to where the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Son_of_God Son of God] was, as they had seen his star in the sky, but she did not know. She provided them with shelter for a night, as she was considered the best housekeeper in the village, with the most pleasant home. The magi invited her to join them on the journey to find the baby Jesus, but she declined, stating she was too busy with her housework. Later, La Befana had a change of heart, and tried to search out the astrologers and Jesus. That night she was not able to find them, so to this day, La Befana is searching for the little baby. She leaves all the good children toys and lollies (“caramelle”) or fruit, while the bad children get coal (“carbone”), onions or garlic.

Also, popular tradition tells that if one sees La Befana one will receive a thump from her broomstick, as she doesn't wish to be seen. This aspect of the tradition may be designed to keep children in their beds while parents are distributing lollies (or coal) and sweeping the floor on Epiphany Eve.

Here is an Italian nursery rhyme that the children will sing for “La Befana”

La Befana vien di notte<br />con le scarpe tutte rotte<br />col cappello alla romana<br />viva viva la Befana!

Rough Translation

The Befana comes at night<br />wearing old broken shoes<br />dressed in Roman (hat) style<br />long live la Befana!

The origins of La Befana may actually go back farther, to the Roman's pagan festival of ''Saturnalia'', a one or two week festival starting just before the winter solstice. At the end of ''Saturnalia'', Romans would go to the Temple of Juno on the Capitoline Hill to have their augers read by an old crone. Many pagan traditions were incorporated into Christmas celebrations when Christianity became main stream. La Befana was a good substitute for the old woman who read the augers. The saying ''augur'' originated with this practice, too, as it was common to wish someone ''good augers''.