Auguri per La Befana!

January 6th is Epiphany, the 12th Day upon which the three Wise Men finally reached the Manger and presented Baby Jesus with their gifts. Tradition has it that the night before they reached their destination they stopped at an old widow's shack and invited her to join them in their quest. She had other things to do, however, and told them to go ahead. A big mistake, because when La Befana, as she's called, changed her mind and tried to follow them she lost her way. So she tried again a year later, and the year after that, and is still trying, flying over the world on her broomstick on the 11th Night, checking upon all the children in the hopes that one might be the Baby Jesus; she comes with gifts, leaving kids stockings full of candy if they have been good, and lumps of coal if they have not.

When I was little Epiphany was the Holiday eagerly awaited by Italian kids (Christmas was a family affair, with little in the way of gifts), and starting on the 7th everyone hurried to the baker to buy cenci, fritters dusted with powdered sugar that continued until Lent.

So again, Happy Epiphany, and if you have a little one in the house don't forget the stocking!