We all know that, in Italy, the holiday season does not end with Christmas Day: it stretches well into January and closes on January 6, the Feast of the Epiphany, a date full of meaning, both religious and folkloristic. For most Italians, of course, the day is inseparable from La Befana, the old woman who, according to folklore, travels on a broomstick during the night to bring sweets to children.
La Befana is not a glamorous figure: she is often depicted with worn shoes, a crooked smile, and a bag full of mismatched treats. And yet, she plays an important role in the Italian festive calendar, because her arrival marks the end of celebrations, a moment when the house slowly returns to normal after weeks of gatherings, long meals, and shared family life: food, as always in Italy, is part of that transition.
