Epiphany: the traditional Italian feast on the last day of Christmas

Unlike many other countries around the world, Christmas time here in Italy isn’t over yet. The last celebration that brings this long and very joyful Christmas period to an end is Epiphany, celebrated on January the 6^th. Up until this date Italian factories are closed and the Gleni staff is still on holiday too. But don’t worry, because we will be coming back to you more joyful and full of energy than ever, ready to share this bright new year 2009 with you, which we hope will be full of joy, positive emotion, wonderful sensations and many exciting surprises that will certainly fill most of you with enthusiasm.

But let’s get back to this special feast! What does Epiphany mean? Who is the “Befana”?

Epiphany was born as a specific religious feast, when the Catholic Church remembered the visit of the three Wise Men to Baby Jesus after his birth. bringing him gold, incense and myrrh as gifts in celebration of his birth.

However, this feast has very soon become a non-religious festival too, celebrated here in Italy with particular enthusiasm both by adults and by children. The children look forward to Epiphany with a mixture of anxiety and eager anticipation because, according to Italian tradition, on the night between the 5^th and the 6^th of January, while they are asleep in their warm beds, an old, ugly but good woman, called “Befana” flies in the sky on her broom with a special sack full of packages and she comes into their home and brings them a special gift, depositing it next to the Christmas tree or in the fireplace so that when they get up in the morning, they find a surprise. Children who have been good all through the past year, usually receive something beautiful, while naughty children receive charcoal and ash, as punishment for their bad behavior (but this is just a joke).

It is an old tradition here in Italy to hang decorative Christmas stockings on the chimney or on the kitchen window so that the Befana, when she comes into the house, can fill them with chocolates and bonbons. The Italian Befana only comes at night, not during the day because otherwise she might be seen and the surprise is lost. In reality, as you can easily imagine, this ugly old woman doesn’t exist: it is the parents who do her job for her and at night get up very slowly and put their presents under the Christmas tree or next to the chimney, with the constant fear of being discovered by their children and giving them a severe disappontment.

As you know, children love sleeping but at Epiphany , they always get up very early in the morning, ready to enter the living room and run towards their gifts with their hearts bursting with excitement. The smallest ones are often scared to enter the room in case they see “the old Befana“ still putting the packages under the Christmas tree, and hide in the kitchen until their parents will take them in holding their hands.

The Italian custom also says that the Befana leaves her gifts not just at one house, but she also visits grandparents’, uncles and other relatives homes; so at Epiphany, Italian houses are always full of people visiting and of children unwrapping gifts. Tables are laden with cakes and traditional drinks like punch (an alcoholic drink which should be served warm with a small lemon skin) or other Italian liqueurs, and everything is pervaded by a special atmosphere or peace and harmony.

Many Italian families, on this day, usually have lunch together in order to spend one last day of fun and relaxation before returning to their daily routine and to work.

So, as you can easily understand, at this time we are a little sad because Epiphany announces the end of Christmas time and here in Italy this period is really a special time of the year, but, at the same time we are also happy to come back to work and meet you all virtually again, so that we can continue offering you many special surprises, hoping you will sincerely appreciate them.

Do you have a similar feast in your country? If you have a similar day to our Epiphany in your country, please tell us about the customs and the traditions of this feast!!! We are extremely interested to read about them, so that we can get to know you and your background.