EPIPHANY

On the twelve nights after the winter solstice, at a time of celebration for a rebirth of nature, it was a popular belief that mysterious female figures flew over the fields to ingratiate themselves with future harvests, guided by Diana.



So the myth of the famous 'flying woman' riding a broomstick is said to have originated here.
The figure of the old woman dressed in rags would ince represent the concept of a year lived, consumed.
The figure of Perchta or Berchta, a woman in old age with mussed hair, tattered clothes and big feet celebrated in some areas of Austria and Germany precisely twelve days after Christmas, has the same value.



The custom of setting fire to puppets made of rags during the festivities is widespread in many cities in Europe;
The broomstick would be seen as a symbol of purification, cleansing and above all rebirth; unfortunately, the Befana to this day is considered a witch, this is undoubtedly due to Halloween and also a condemnation of Christianity.

The term 'Befana' also comes from the lexical corruption of epiphany, from the Greek epifaneia, 'manifestation', through bifanìa and befanìa. The custom of delivering gifts or coal to children would instead be closely linked to characters such as Father Christmas and St Nicholas or, for some, to the Roman deity of Strenia. 

A different tradition saw the Befana festivity as an opportunity to supplement income for needy families, who were given food and small gifts in exchange for passing from house to house for the famous exchange of good wishes.
A current attempt to Christianise the feast was to associate it with the Three Wise Men by telling of a meeting between the latter and the old woman, and of the former's unsuccessful attempt to convince the woman to come with them to the Infant Jesus. Following an initial refusal, the old woman is said to have repented, and from then on would wander from house to house delivering gifts to other children, hoping to make up for her guilt.