by Isabella, age 9 from Charleston, asks La Befana about the Epiphany and her broomstick deliveries.
A Letter to La Befana from Isabella in Charleston, South Carolina
Dear La Befana, my name is Isabella and I am nine years old. I live in Charleston, South Carolina, and I heard you fly on a broomstick instead of a sleigh, so I have questions:
- Are you a witch who brings presents to children?
- Did the Three Wise Men ask you to come with them to see baby Jesus?
- Do Italian children get presents from both you and Babbo Natale?
- Do you come down the chimney like Santa?
- Do you come on January 6th, Epiphany, instead of Christmas?
- Do you fly on a broomstick instead of riding a sleigh with reindeer?
- Do you give candy to good children and coal to bad ones?
- Do you have red eyes and a scary expression?
- Do you sweep the floor with your broom before you leave?
- Do you visit all of Italy, or only certain regions?
- Geography: What large island lies just off the toe of Italy’s boot shaped peninsula?
- Social Studies: Epiphany, January 6th, is a Christian holiday. What event does it celebrate?
Love, Isabella
La Befana Writes Back
Are you a witch who brings presents to children?
Yes, Isabella, I am a kind old witch, broomstick and all, who brings gifts to children each January.
Did the Three Wise Men ask you to come with them to see baby Jesus?
According to legend, yes, they invited me to join them on their journey to see the newborn Jesus, but I was too busy sweeping my house and missed my chance. I have been trying to catch up ever since, leaving gifts along the way.
Do Italian children get presents from both you and Babbo Natale?
Many Italian families celebrate both, Babbo Natale on Christmas Eve and me on the Epiphany, so the gift giving season stretches out nicely.
Do you come down the chimney like Santa?
Chimney, yes, very much like Santa, since old sooty chimneys are a classic part of my story too.
Do you come on January 6th, Epiphany, instead of Christmas?
January 6th, the Epiphany, is my night, twelve days after Christmas.
Do you fly on a broomstick instead of riding a sleigh with reindeer?
A broomstick, yes, which I suppose makes for a bumpier ride than a smooth sleigh, but it gets the job done.
Do you give candy to good children and coal to bad ones?
Exactly right. Well behaved children find candy and small treats, while cheekier ones might find a lump of sweet, harmless coal shaped candy instead.
Do you have red eyes and a scary expression?
Not scary at all, despite the old spooky pictures. Most modern versions show me as a kind, wrinkled old woman with a warm smile, just riding an old broomstick.
Do you sweep the floor with your broom before you leave?
Yes, sweeping is practically my signature move. Some families believe I sweep away the troubles of the old year before I go.
Do you visit all of Italy, or only certain regions?
All across Italy, north to south, though regional customs and treats can look a little different from town to town.
Geography: What large island lies just off the toe of Italy’s boot shaped peninsula?
Just off the toe of Italy’s boot shaped peninsula sits Sicily, a large island separated from the mainland by the narrow Strait of Messina, a stretch of water I cross quite easily on my broomstick.
Social Studies: Epiphany, January 6th, is a Christian holiday. What event does it celebrate?
Epiphany, celebrated on January 6th, marks the day Christians believe the Three Wise Men finally reached baby Jesus and presented their gifts. My own story of arriving late, gifts in hand, ties directly back to that same journey.
