That the Hag that she comes at night with her shoes all broken is now well known, but few know that she is a little old lady who descends from the moon on a sorghum broom as soon as the sky darkens… In short, there are phrases, nursery rhymes and proverbs about the good witch galore, you’re spoiled for choice!
The Epiphany (from the Greek “appearance”) is a Christian holiday celebrated 12 days after Christmas, therefore on January 6, for the Western Churches and for the Eastern Churches that follow the Gregorian calendar. But for children it is a magical moment in which they wait for the “stocking” from the legendary Befana.
All kinds of things are said about her, but the truth is that she is a very old woman who flies on a worn-out broom, to visit children on the night between January 5th and 6th and fill her stockings mostly with sweets. , sweets or small toys. Be careful, those who have been naughty will (also) find some coal or garlic.
Here are some proverbs, nursery rhymes and phrases chosen for you to invoke the sweet lady and make her come to your puppies:
Proverbs about the Befana from the Regions:
“Befania, sends away all celebrations, and Santa Maria, revives all” (Tuscany)
“On the night of the Epiphany all the beasts speak” (Veneto)
“La note dla Pasqueta e’scor e’ ciù e la zveta” (on the night of the Epiphany the curlew and the owl speak – Emilia Romagna)
“Per la Pasqueta, Carnvèl a bacheta” (For the Epiphany Carnival at full blast – Emilia Romagna)”The Epiphany takes away all the celebrations, then Saint Benedict arrives and brings back a nice bag of them.”
“On Easter Epiphany the wind goes away”
“On the night of Befana, the donkey, the ox and the mare speak in the stable”
Nursery rhymes about the Befana
The Befana comes at night
with his shoes all broken
with patches on the skirt:
Long live the Befana!—
Above the roofs, slowly
the old woman goes and, from the fireplace,
then it drops and bounces down
to fill your stocking
of coal or sweets
of oranges and games.
Then he goes back up and leaves
and another year he will return!—
While the befana was going
in a child’s house,
got caught in her skirt
above the edge of the fireplace.For tearing the big bag
he escaped her, fell down,
not even a package remained
that everything wasn’t broken.“What a disaster, what a disappointment”
under the dark and gray sky,
the old lady murmured.
“It would take quite a miracle.”Then, smiling big,
he turned his eyes towards the sky
and the sack, suddenly,
it was still full of toys.“Let a child wait in vain
never be, my word”
said the witch, softly.
Then he continued on his way.—
O Befana, Befanina,
don’t pass so quickly,
don’t forget my little house,
don’t forget my sock!I prepared the shot
a handful of beans and hay,
I left you a basket
full of cicchetti.You, coming late at night,
when I sleep and think of you,
make my stocking very round;
I will be happy like a King!—
When it’s time, the Befana
he jumps on the broom’s back.
He’s already overflowing with impatience:
raises it to the north wind,
he gallops among the clouds.
Every child in his own bed
examines his conscience:
curses the little goat,
blesses obedience:
In the morning at the first ray
he rushes to the fireplace.
A beautiful gift to the wise child,
a piece of charcoal for the bad guy!—
Befana’s shoe broke,
and she also unstitched her scarf.
His hood is all faded,
her dress has tears and holes.
Alas, the broom is all plucked,
and his club has now broken.Then he runs into a warehouse,
buy a dress, a red sweater.
Big boots, nice socks,
a nice hat and long johns.
Finally he buys a scooter
and hooks a small cart behind it.So caparisoned and half splashed,
she goes down the street all fired up.
Then he flies into the sky among clouds and stars
collects beautiful toys and dolls.
And, trumpeting as it ascends,
chases Santa’s sleigh.—
Hush, hush, good children,
quick, quick down to sleep:
the Befana is about to come
with his sack full of gifts.—
Befana is an old lady
which descends from the moon
on the sorghum broom
as soon as the sky darkens.And he approaches little by little
to socks and shoes
lined up on the fireplace
and, laughing, puts and puts…The north wind is blowing outside
and the white snow comes down,
but for children the Befana
he is not cold and does not get tired.—
With the north ice
the Befana has arrived
and wanders around in socks
between chimneys and fireplaces
who await him impassively,
smiling and smoked.
“Here” a chimney warns him
“There’s a little one having fun
all day: a slacker!”
“Behold, ashes and coal!”
“Is there a sensible child here?
Here is a generous gift,
but to the negligent brother
I’ll leave nothing behind right away.
Is there a vanerella girl?
Here’s the little duck,
but the most beautiful toy
I give it to an orphan:
smile for a moment
will return to the sad face.
Famous writings on the Befana
In every elegant house there is the main door for the gentlemen, and there is the service door for the suppliers; but the celestial door for the gods must not be missing. It could be said that the chimney breast is the tunnel that connects the earth to the sky. (…) Due to certain conventions, and a widespread lack of courage to ascend, perhaps this door is little used. This does not mean that the Befana door is not the true main door: the door that opens onto the universe.
Gilbert Keith Chesterton
The Befana is coming
From a land far away,
so far away that it isn’t there…
the Befana, do you know who she is?
The Befana comes, comes,if you are silent you will hear it well:
if you stay silent you fall asleep,
you no longer hear the Befana.
La Befana, poor thing,
he gets confused in his haste:
instead of the train I had ordered
he left me some coal.Gianni Rodari
They told me, dear Befana, that you fill the sock with wool, that all the children, if they are good, receive rich gifts from you. I have always been good but you never brought me a gift. This year too, you pass exactly on time in the calendar, but I’m afraid, poor thing, that you travel by direct train: a train that skips many stations where there are good children. I sent you this letter to get you on the express train! O dear Befana, take a train that stops at every child’s house, that stops at the houses of the poor people with many gifts and many confetti.
Gianni Rodari
