199. The Befana- an Enigmatic Figure
She dresses up like one’s great grandmother from the last century, and since witches have come into existence, at times she wears a black pointed hat... but always, always she carries one of those long bushy broomsticks with a wooden handle and if you lucky you can actually see her fly on it.
She doesn’t scare anyone anymore, imagine, you have to parade at least a dozen of them inside children’s hospital so as not to disappoint those who can’t get into the streets to see them.
However, The Befana does not have an easy time of it all, she is put on top of a bonfire the night before on January 5th and comes back the day after to vindicate herself for this ill deed. Many ladies who do not have such a comely appearance which doesn’t really boil down to good looks but to a snarky temperament are often nicknamed “The Befana”.
Yet the kids love her even if she puts a sugary piece of black shiny coal wrapped in cellophane and tied with a pretty ribbon in their stocking- they simply dare her to do it. Isn’t it amazing how kids love to be thought of as “wrong doers” at least once in a year?
Some say she helps the three wise men look for baby Jesus but no one really believes that. The three wise men come under their own steam, in carriages, on foot, but mostly on horseback.
The Befana, however, comes in many different ways; on a bicycle, cart, boat, even hot air balloon or a parachute. She will drop out from a bell tower, fly down a hill or whizz by on a motorbike.
What you won’t see her doing is stride into the sea to celebrate an ancient feast recalling the Baptism of Christ as these people on the coast of Sicily can be seen doing.
WestBow
Comments
Thanks for your thoughts Kate.