The Epiphany is better known as the Adoration of the Magi (Matthew 2:1-12), and I think you all probably know this story where the three kings bring three very impractical gifts to a newborn (but of course the frankincense, gold, and myrrh symbolize things, most notably divinity, royalty, and death, in that order). But what, or who, is the Befana? The Magi were lost and so asked a woman for directions (I know, right?!) and then invited her to join them in greeting the newborn Messiah, but she declined as she had work to do. She soon realized her mistake and so chased after the kings, broom in hand, to no avail. She never was able to meet the child, and so every 6 January she flies around on her broom delivering sweets to children. You’ll see little witches hanging in store windows and may even see her distributing candies to little ones along the city streets today!
The Adoration of the Magi by, clockwise from top left: Bartolo di Fredi (ca.1390), Duccio di Buoninsegna (1308-11), Sandro Botticelli (ca. 1475), Domenico Ghirlandaio (ca. 1485-88), Leonardo da Vinci (ca. 1481-82), Giovanni di Paolo (ca. 1450).
