In the Catholic celebration of “Three Kings Day”, also called “Epiphany of the Lord”, celebrated around the world this Wednesday (6), Italy presents one of its most awaited traditions, especially by children: the arrival of the witch Befana.
However, due to the new coronavirus pandemic, most of the celebrations will take place online.
The country celebrates the date with various festivals and processions. One of the most traditional takes place in Florence, where three men on horses travel through the city streets to deliver offerings to the baby Jesus.
Furthermore, many cities are decorated with stockings hanging in the windows of houses, lighting and even Befana witch dolls, some life-size.
Pandemic changed Epiphany and Befana celebrations in Italy
With the Sars-CoV-2 coronavirus pandemic, the format of celebrations changed and became more reserved. The day will be marked by several online events, such as screenings of animated films, live workshops via streaming and online guided tours of museums.
The Industrial Heritage Museum in Bologna, Italy, made a question and answer game about Befana available on its website.
The city of Urbania, in the Marches region, will allow the public to go online inside the witch's official residence.
In Naples, the city's cathedral will host a religious ceremony, which will be presided over by Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe. The celebration will also be broadcast live on television. With strict rules for leaving and entering parishes, Giovinazzo will celebrate the day with several masses.
The city of Fano will celebrate “Three Kings Day” with an online event during the evening, which will feature a performance by the Rossini Symphony Orchestra.
“We wanted to dedicate an event to the youngest children and their families, providing a moment that has double value: one part for the children and another for the whole family, when the meaning of the Epiphany of the Lord will be conveyed through music from all over the world,” said Etienn Lucarelli, Secretary of Tourism of Fano.
Epiphany
With the end of Christmas Italy, the houses are filled with stockings hanging around the house, and the children wait for the arrival of the witch Befana, who brings sweets to the little ones who have behaved well during the year.
Just like Santa Claus, the good old lady usually leaves gifts from house to house. Like so many legends, however, its origin remains uncertain. For many, Befana arises from the story of the wise men, who got lost during their trip to Bethlehem to give a gift to the baby Jesus and asked for help from a lady who did not want to accompany them.
This old lady would be the witch, who, repentant, decides to bring gifts to Jesus, but, without finding him, distributes sweets to every house she passes. Therefore, Befana Day is celebrated in Italy on January 6, when the wise men would have presented Jesus with gifts, putting an end to the Christmas festivities.
For many years, the exchange of Christmas gifts in Italy took place at the Befana Festival. To adapt to other countries, Italians began to give gifts to their loved ones at Christmas itself, but continued to celebrate the legend of the witch in January.
The date is so important in the country that markets sell socks of the most diverse types, often already filled with sweets, and most stores close on Old Lady's Day. Despite being a witch, Befana is good and much loved by the Italians, however, if the child's behavior was bad, she will leave a coal instead of sweets.
By Ansa Agency
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