La Befana

Italy's kindly old gift-bringer who sweeps out the year on Epiphany Eve

La Befana is the patched, soot-smudged old woman of Italian folklore, called the nonnina, the little grandmother. She is not a deity: she belongs to the Epiphany season, and her name is usually derived from Epifania, the Italian word for Epiphany. In the best-known telling, the Magi invited her to join their search for the Christ Child; she was too busy, then changed her mind and has searched ever since.

On the night of 5 January she flies by broom, comes down the chimney and fills stockings with sweets, fruit and toys, or sugar coal for the mischievous. A mandarin or orange and a glass of wine are left for her. Her market fills Piazza Navona in Rome, and Urbania in the Marche hosts a national festival where a Befana is lowered from the bell tower.

Shop La Befana See the gallery

How to recognise La Befana

FaceLook for an old woman with a long nose and pointed chin, warm, a little cheeky and grandmotherly, never cruel or cackling.
Kerchief or hatShe wears a headscarf or sometimes a shapeless broad-brimmed hat (cappellaccio), not a sleek pointed black witch's hat.
Patched clothesA wide dark skirt, pocketed apron and shawl are brightened with many coloured patches, and the shawl is sooty from the chimney.
Broken shoesWorn, patched or broken shoes recall the well-known rhyme in which she comes by night with her shoes all broken.
BroomA straw or twig broom, carried or ridden, recalls that she was sweeping when the Magi called and that she sweeps away the old year's troubles.
Sack of giftsA sack bulging with toys, chocolates and candies shows her as gift-bringer; some rhymes give her a gerla, a basket carried on her back.
StockingA calza (stocking) hung at the fireplace or window is where she leaves sweets and fruit for good children, and sugar 'carbone dolce' coal for the naughty.

Names and titles

The Old Woman of EpiphanyBritannica describes her as the old woman who fills children's stockings with gifts on Epiphany
Sweeper of the Old YearHer broom is said to sweep away the problems of the past year and make room for the new one
Still Searching for the ChildIn the legend she regretted not joining the Magi and has searched for the infant Jesus ever since, leaving small gifts for children on the way
Comes by Night in Broken ShoesA line from the well-known Italian nursery rhyme about her
Italy's Famous NonninaItalians call her the most famous 'little grandmother' in Italy

Feast days

Epiphany Eve5 January, every year
Epiphany (Epifania)6 January, every year
National Befana Festival (Festa Nazionale della Befana)4 January, every year (date to be confirmed)