La Befana

La Befana is a character from Italian folklore, similar to Father Christmas in the sense that she flies around delivering sweets to well-behaved children in early January. La Befana is thought to have descended from the ancient Roman goddess Strenua, who was a goddess of the New Year.

The legend of La Befana states that she was an old woman who gave the Three Wise Men hospitality and rest in her home on their way to Bethlehem. The Wise Men said they were following a star to see the baby, a king, who would be the saviour of mankind. After they had left, La Befana decided she wanted to join them, so she gathered sweets as a gift, and ran out after them, but she was too late – they had gone. La Befana followed the star on her own, leaving sweets at every child’s door, hoping to find the baby Jesus. She is depicted as an elderly lady dressed in black, carrying a broomstick.