The visit of the friendly witch La Befana is celebrated on Epiphany Eve (January 5) throughout Italy and Sicily. La Befana is recognized because of her broomstick, shawl, and sack filled with sweets and gifts for children. Legend is that she originally set out to meet the Baby Jesus, but never found her way to Bethlehem. To this day, in an attempt to catch up with the Wise Men, on the eve of Epiphany, she stops at every home, leaving sweets and gifts for well-behaved children in stockings that they’ve hung in their windows. Naughty children are left coal.
Years ago in Sicily, naughty children in rural areas were sometimes left a stick versus coal, while well-behaved children traditionally were given dried figs, dates, honey, and almonds. Today throughout Sicily, adults organize a “sighting” of La Befana in a common meeting place in their towns (much like we have with Santa Clause) during which our friendly witch gives out candy and other goodies from her sack.
