Diary: Marina Warner, Viva la Befana!
La Befana takes to the air, Italy (Ilya Alisse, Getty Images)
On the eve of January 6, the Feast of the Three Kings, la Befana rides the north wind through ice and snow on a battered broomstick to visit homes where children have hung up their stockings or left their shoes by the fireside. She’s a tiny, hideous, ragged crone in a threadbare cloak but she carries an overflowing basket on her back, and she fills good children’s stockings with gifts of nuts and fruits, sweets and toys. Those who have not been so good—fie!—she leaves them lumps of charcoal (Italian parents used to warn their offspring “Stai buono se vuoi fare una bella Befana,” be good if you want a beautiful Befana). Her name is a demotic corruption of the word Epiphany, the feast day that celebrates the arrival of the three kings or magi to lay their gifts before the infant Jesus; she’s the Italian counterpart of traditional Christmas figures from other parts of Europe: of Saint Nicholas who became Santa Claus and, in the Low Countries, of Santa’s sidekick, the now highly controversial folk character Zwarte Piet (Black Peter).
On one level, a folk character like la Befana personifies a certain time in the cycle of the seasons, as does Father Christmas himself or the Queen of the May, but at another, deeper level, her story extends the principle of epiphany or revelation. The legend that grew up around her relates that the kings or magi came passing by the old woman’s hovel on their way to see the baby who, they told her, was destined to be the ruler of the world. They invite her to go with them, but she doesn’t believe their story, says she has too much housework to do, and sends them on their way. She’s a Martha, choosing humdrum duties over transcendence, or one of those people of little faith whom Jesus would later castigate. La Befana however soon regrets her decision, and, seizing her broom, sets out after the mysterious visitors. But she can’t catch up with them, and she never does see the savior. The story goes, she is still looking. In the meantime, she follows the kings’ example and brings gifts.
