Befana A "Christmas Witch"

Just wanted to share an old custom from Italy, concerning a witch during the Yule Season. Though purely pagan,it is still a part of the Season there (among Christians and Pagans alike). In Italy there is a figure similar to Santa Claus, except that she is a witch named Befana. On January 6th, children set out stockings to be filled by the "good witch" Befana. She has a consort who accompanies her (usually in Festival Parades) named Befano. Early in the evening an indeterminate number of people gather, and Befana takes to the streets accompanied by her husband and entourage. She is accompanied by a makeshift band of 3 or 4 musicians, and a live horse. They will go from house to house, singing the Befana song. Having done this, the Befana and her company receive a glass of wine, or a bite to eat, and continue on.

In a book by Carol Field (celebrating Italy) Befana is associated with Hecate. An etching by Bartolomeo Pinelli in 1825,  shows Befana as the Mother Goddess seated and surrounded by fruits, grains, and other items of the Harvest.  The celebration of Befana ends in a burning in effigy. Upon a hill a pyramid of corn sheaves, brushwood, and pine branches are piled. The effigy of Befana is placed on top,and fire is set to the wood. Chestnuts are tossed in as symbols of  fertility. Custom says that if the smoke blows to the West, then the crops will be poor. If to the East, it is an omen of a year of abundance. This has many similarities to the Slain God Mythos. This rite is not one of punishment, but one of replenishing the Earth through returning the Life Giver, Herself. In Italy today, candy images of Befana, and statues are available during the Season. My mother says that Befana and Befano are remnants of the old God & Goddess of the Witch Clans, preserved by witches from the time of the Persecution. Seems likely when you do some research. There are two books (written in Italian) which present the associations of Befana with various seasonal rites. These are; The Sacred Day (a book of Festivals) by Franco Cardini. The Calendar: festivals, myths, legends, and rites of the year (also by Cardini - professor of History at the University of Florence).

The words to the song follow, however something is lost in the translation (as they say). Also, even in the Italian there is little attempt at rhyme:

"Upon the wind the snow is falling and is blown on the wind before, and with a light step she descends to us, a witch that is dear to you all, a witch that many here love who comes every year to find you, she has arrived with us 'la Befana' every heart is full of joy from among the valley, villages, and countryside our Befana has arrived here, she has brought a great sack full of gifts, that she wants to give to you dear children, that promise to be good for their mothers and fathers."

  (tempo changes here, and another verse begins)

"and now friends you that are here, we want to sing and dance, and a ballet we want to do, with the Befana and Befano, and we want to salute you all, friends we shall always remain, and the Befana before she goes, wishes you all happiness and prosperity".

This is repeated twice. Another part of the custom which I neglected to mention deals with the children preparing for the arrival of Befana (before the festivities). Each child writes his or her wishes upon a piece of paper and places it in the fireplace, allowing the small bit of paper to float up the chimney. My mother says that the Befana customs differ somewhat from region to region,  in Italy. I know that in Naples, the street festivals are no longer  commonplace, and I hear that in the region of Vald' Aosta the Befana  celebrations have all but vanished.  Still, the custom survives (due to the  Children, no doubt). The Old Lady is still going strong!

RAVEN GRIMASSI.