Pagan Festival Shout Out: Feast of Befana

Feast of Befana: Feast of Goddess Befana, the old woman who flies on a broom, bringing gifts to all good children.

In popular folklore Befana visits all the children of Italy on the eve of the Feast of the Epiphany to fill their socks with candy and presents if they are good, or a lump of coal or dark candy if they are bad. The celebration starts the Eve of Epiphany, January 5th. Before St. Nick or Santa there was Befana.

A popular belief is that her name derives from the Feast of Epiphany (Italian: Festa dell'Epifania. Epifania is a Latin word with Greek origins meaning "manifestation (of the divinity)." Some suggest that Befana is descended from the Sabine/Roman goddess named Strenia.

Befana is invoked in spells, mostly for good fortune.

1. Write her a note that speaks to your desires.
2. Place the note beneath a red witch-shaped candle and burn.
3. Accompany with offerings of bread soaked in wine or milk.