epifania

Why there is what appears to be a witch riding on a broomstick hanging from my Christmas Tree.

Many people believe that the name Befana is derived from the Italians' mispronunciation of the Greek word epifania or epiphaneia. La Befana is thought to have originated in Rome and then spread as a tradition to the rest of Italy.

It is believed (or at least the story goes...) that the Magi approached La Befana a few days before Christ's birth. They either asked her for directions or for a place to stay. She did not know where Jesus was. She either provided them with shelter for the night (she was considered the best housekeeper in the village with a very pleasant home) or she turned them away because she was too busy with her housework. In the first version they invite her to join them on the journey to find the baby Jesus, but she declines, stating she is too busy with her housework. In both stories she later has a change of heart, and tries to catch up. She notices a bright light in the sky; she thinks it is the way. With some baked goods and gifts for baby Jesus in her bag and her broom to help the new mother clean she begins her search. She is not able to find him, so to this day, La Befana is searching for Jesus. On the eve of Epiphany she visits the home of every child searching for Jesus. She leaves all the good children toys and candy, while the bad children get coal or bags of ashes, and she sweeps up the their home before she moves on to the next. It's also said that if anyone ever catches her she whacks them so hard on the head with her broomstick they forget they saw her... or that a thump from her broomstick makes you forget you saw her ;-).

hope you had a wonder filled Christmas with a few sweet surprises!
Happy Epiphany!