On January 6, day dell'Epiania, Catholic countries celebrate the arrival of the Magi
at the hut in which, according to tradition, Jesus was born
Child.
Kings brought gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh, respectively
symbols of kingship, divinity and redemption.
In Italian tradition, the place of the three generous King has been occupied by the Befana, a
boniaria old woman, astride a broom and the nost through the heavens to deliver cakes and candy to good children and coal to bad children and ash.
According to legend, Befana was an old lady to the door of which, on 6 January many years ago, the Magi
knocked to ask for directions on the road to Bethlehem.
The woman did not understand the request and could not give them any indication.
The Kings then asked her to join them, but she refused because he had much work to do.
After the Magi had gone she knew he had erred,
but it was too late to remedy!
Every year since then, the night between 5 and Jan. 6, the Epiphany
roams the sky in search of Jesus and stops in homes where there is a child
to leave a gift in the hope that the child Jesus is
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