An italian christmas legend that involves an old peasant lady. One night she receives a visit from three wisemen who are following a. My child enjoyed hearing the story repeatedly and looked forward to treats on the morning of january 6th. The story of befana, the italian santa claus befana, eleonara gianinetto, flikr italy is a historically catholic culture with many holidays, traditions and beliefs coming from biblical and religious roots. Together, text and pictures capture the essence of that strange night when three royally dressed men invite befana to join their starled search for the christ child, and she stubbornly. At eataly, we are celebrating her arrival with panettone and pandoro, the traditional italian holiday cakes, and other sweet treats. At eataly, we are celebrating her arrival with panettone and pandoro. This book is wonderfully written and has beautiful illustrations. In italian folklore, befana is an old woman who delivers gifts to children throughout italy on. It is timeworn only by its many versions, and tomie depaolas retelling is unique in its resplendent settings and carefully researched detail. They celebrate many more national holidays from the christian religion than some other countries and therefore have more traditions for. Infine, consigliamo agli adulti due interessanti letture sulla befana. They explained they were seeking a newborn childa wondrous child.
The celebration of befana, who flies across the sky on twelfth night, leaving cakes and cookies for children as they sleep, is a beloved story in europe. An old tale handed down orally is bound to have many variations. Italian anthropologists claudia and luigi manciocco, in their book una casa senza porte a house without doors trace befanas origins. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Online shopping from a great selection at books store. It is a public holiday across italy and marks the official end of the christmas season. With epiphany coming up on january 6, weve already read the legend of old befana by tomie depaola several times in our home.
The feast of the epiphany, an important postchristmas date on the christian calendar, is celebrated on january 6 as a national holiday in italy. For sweeping and baking all day long, and singing lullabies to no one at all. For the small, little children she leaves a lot of little chocolates, for the bad little children, she leaves ashes and coal. Does anyone know where i can purchase a doll other than piazza navona in december or january. Im so excited to be part of the christmas around the world series this holiday. Italy is a historically catholic culture with many holidays, traditions and beliefs coming from biblical and religious roots. Religious feast forms backdrop to day of cultural festivities and shopping in rome. Of course, there are many variations of the story, but she is basically seen as one of the many precursors to the modern day santa claus.
The befana is celebrated throughout all of italy, and has become a national icon. Every year there is a big festival held to celebrate the holiday. Epiphany is the religious observation following christmas of the arrival of the three magi to present their precious gifts to the baby jesus. Why do italian children hang up a stocking on the eve of the epiphany. The befana comes by night with her shoes all tattered and torn she comes dressed in the roman way long live the befana. The legend is that the magi stopped along their long journey, knocking on the door of an old woman to ask directions to bethlehem and to rest. Each watercolor illustration is entirely handdone, every brush stroke robust and purposeful.
The christmas season in italy is one that begins with the novena eight days before christmas and lasts until the feast of the epiphany on january 6th. I love the story of the three kings, the biblical tiein to the giving of gifts in a non santaheavy way. Una festa dedicata ai piu piccoli nel segno della befana. This is a delightful reading of the favorite italian christmas story about an eccentric old woman and her neverending search for the baby king.
In this beloved classic picture book, tomie depaola retells and illustrates an italian christmas folk tale, breathing warmth and humanity into the character of the lonely old befana and her endless search for the christ child. The legend of old befana by tomie depaola goodreads. I read this book to my students every december when i teach christmas around the world. I also love the magical quality of the christmas witch as it hearkens back to my favorite holiday, halloween. When the three wise men approached her and asked her if she knew where to find the holy infant, she told them she didnt but offered to shelter them for the night. In the regions of the marches, umbria and latium, her figure is associated with the papal states, where the epiphany held the most importance. Another version is given in a poem by giovanni pascoli. Visualizza tutti i 2 formati e le edizioni nascondi altri formati ed edizioni.
Every morning and every afternoon, old befana sweeps with her broom. Scopa che viene usata come arma contundente, sulle teste di quei bambini sorpresi a spiarla mentre lei sta riempiendo le calze appese al camino di dolciumi o di carbone, a seconda che siano stati buoni o cattivi. But seeing the christmas star in the sky, she was drawn to find the. Il testo e le immagini sono state tratte dallomonimo. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or. Snow covered the mountaintops like icing on christmas cakes. Il testo e le immagini sono state tratte dallomonimo spettacolo, vincitore nel 2005 del primo premio ribalte di fantasia promosso dalla rivista di. Startled and afraid, she took it as a sign to follow the magi in search of the christ child. I so enjoy handson activities that feature cultural traditions and geography like the around the world in 30 books activity. His story also broadens the character of the eccentric old recluse of the small italian village. And during the holidays, there are a lot of fun ways to learn about countries across the globe try this free printable christmas geography activity. Ispirato alla tradizione della befana toscana e liberamente integrato con riferimenti alle diverse tradizioni regionali italiane ed europee.
About 30,000 to 50,000 people attend the festivities. Author tomie depaola, who was highlighted last month in our online book club for kids, writes some wonderful stories based on italian legends. The holiday also marks the end of christmas and new years festivities in italy, after which children go back to school, adults go back to work. Merry christmas, strega nona, everyone is getting ready for the big christmas eve feast and the joy of being with friends during the holiday is highlighted. Translation the befana comes at night in wornout shoes. It turned out they were the three wise men who were following the bright star in the sky which would lead them to the newborn baby jesus.
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