Although not officially due in Barga for at least another week or 10 days, a surprise appearance this morning by an old woman with a patched shawl, black rimmed glasses and a pair of very old boots could only mean that the Befana was in town.
Piazza Angelio this morning was packed with ecstatic children from the kindergarten and elementary schools who sang along enthusiastically the traditional Befana song with the old lady before moving on to the next Piazza for some well earned hot chocolate.
A wonderful mix of old and new culture as all of the children were sporting bright red Santa Claus hats but none of that made any difference to most of the participants this morning – the main thing was that the chocolate was hot and tasty and that the holiday season has started.
La Befana is a character in Italian folklore, similar to Saint Nicholas or Santa Claus. The character may have originated in Rome, then spread as a tradition to peninsular Italy. Her name derives from the festival of Epiphany, and she visits all the children of Italy on the eve of 6 January to fill their socks with sweets if they are good or a lump of coal if they are bad. Being a good housekeeper, many say she will sweep the floor before she leaves. The child's family typically leaves a small glass of wine and a plate with a few morsels of food, often regional or local, for Befana. She is usually portrayed as an old lady riding a broomstick through the air wearing a black shawl and is covered in soot because she enters the children's houses through the chimney. She is often smiling and carries a bag or hamper filled with sweets, gifts, or both. source – wikipedia