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Smemorina
01-02-2006, 05:07 AM
:grin:

LA VERA STORIA

La Befana, (termine che è corruzione di Epifania, cioè manifestazione) è nell’immaginario collettivo un mitico personaggio con l’aspetto da vecchia che porta doni ai bambini buoni la notte tra il 5 e il 6 gennaio.

La sua origine si perde nella notte dei tempi, discende da tradizioni magiche precristiane e, nella cultura popolare, si fonde con elementi folcloristici e cristiani: la Befana porta i doni in ricordo di quelli offerti a Gesù Bambino dai Magi. L’iconografia è fissa: un gonnellone scuro ed ampio, un grembiule con le tasche, uno scialle, un fazzoletto o un cappellaccio in testa, un paio di ciabatte consunte, il tutto vivacizzato da numerose toppe colorate.
Si rifà al suo aspetto la filastrocca (la Befanata) che viene recitata in suo onore:

La Befana vien di notte
con le scarpe tutte rotte
col cappello alla romana...

VIVA VIVA LA BEFANA!

Nella notte tra il 5 e il 6 gennaio, a cavalcioni di una scopa, sotto il peso di un sacco stracolmo di giocattoli, cioccolatini e caramelle (sul cui fondo non manca mai anche una buona dose di cenere e carbone), passa sopra i tetti e calandosi dai camini riempie le calze lasciate appese dai bambini.
Questi, da parte loro, preparano per la buona vecchia, in un piatto, un mandarino o un’arancia e un bicchiere di vino. Il mattino successivo insieme ai regali troveranno il pasto consumato e l’impronta della mano della Befana sulla cenere sparsa nel piatto.

************************************************** **********

The TRUE HISTORY the Epiphany feast, (term that is corruption of Epifania, that is manifestation) is in the imaginary collective a mythical personage with the aspect from old that door gifts to the good children the night between the 5 and 6 January. Its origin gets lost in the night of the times, comes down from preChristian magical traditions and, in the popular culture, it is melted with folkloristic and Christian elements: the Epiphany feast door the gifts in memory of those offers to Jesus Child from the Magi. The iconography is fixed: a gonnellone dark and wide, an apron with the pockets, one scialle, a handkerchief or a cappellaccio in head, a pair of ciabatte consunte, the all vivacizzato one from numerous toppe colored. Rifà to its aspect filastrocca (the Befanata) that it comes recited in its honor:

The Epiphany feast vien of night
with the shoes all routes
with the hat to the Roman...
THE EPIPHANY FEAST LIVES ALIVE!

In the night between the 5 and 6 January, astride of a broom, under the weight of a bag stracolmo of giocattoli, chocolates and candies (on whose bottom never does not lack also a good dose ash and coal), passes over the roofs and decreasing itself from the fireplaces it fills up the stockings left hung from the children. These, from part they, prepare for good the old one, in a plate, a wine Mandarin or orange and glass. The mattino successive with to gifts they will find the meal consumed and the print of the hand of the Epiphany feast on the ash scattered in the plate.


this is a my job of carving on paper "LA BEFANA"
http://img356.imageshack.us/img356/3363/strega11lg.th.jpg (http://img356.imageshack.us/my.php?image=strega11lg.jpg)

sheepsnot
07-21-2006, 08:36 AM
Where have you been, Smemorina? We miss you!

Smemorina
07-21-2006, 01:40 PM
:grin: Hello
you to me, a lot lacked also!
But I have passed to health problems (hour go well) and of job that still not is, and it only works itself to times...
But I task always to you and Santa (have still the made tree!) and my small elfi of stoffa increase...
I will return soon!!!
Ciaooo
http://img55.imageshack.us/img55/4669/36153qw7.gif (http://imageshack.us)

AuntieMistletoeDear
08-04-2006, 08:16 PM
:-) Greetings, dear friend. I remember hearing that story from my friend's Grandfather who lived across the street from me when I was growing up. Lorette's mother had come over from Italy. I remember the only thing I could say to her was "Ciaoo Nonna" and I would give her a smile and she would motion with her hand for me to sit down and then she would talk on and on to me in Italien and although I never knew what she was saying, I listened anyway because she had something to share.

I wish you good health and hope you can find work soon so you can come and visit us more often.

Smemorina
08-05-2006, 01:24 AM
:grin:
Hello
nearly sure it will have said if during the year six state deserving..... otherwise the Epiphany feast not to make gifts but coal...
In Italy Santa did not exist, but only the Epiphany feast, and in sure Italian regions still today they celebrate not Santa she and... :eek:

Thanks of all I hope that this year will be better and hope than to find job... and then after to be also one good Elf and to create much beautiful card for Santa...
ciao ciaooo

sheepsnot
08-05-2006, 08:21 AM
Can someone who understands Italian tell me the story? I have read the English translation, but it still leaves me puzzled. Too many words that didn't translate. :-o

AuntieMistletoeDear
08-06-2006, 05:49 AM
:hello: Sure, Sheep.

La Befana is a Christmas witch that comes 12 days after Christmas on January 6. January 6 is Epiphany and is the celebration of the visit by the three wise men to the baby Jesus. La Befana is derived from Epifania, the Italian for Epiphany.

According to the Italian legend, La Befana lived on the road the three wise men took on their journey to Bethlehem to visit the baby Jesus. The three wise men were on camels and loaded down with gifts when they approached La Befana’s house. They stopped to ask directions to Bethlehem and to see if she could provide them with food and shelter for the night and if she wanted to join them on their journey. La Befana was too busy to talk to the wise men and to busy to go because she was cleaning her home.

Later she changed her mind and decided she should have gone with the wise men. So she set off on her own to look for the Christ Child. She never found the Christ Child.

Befana never gave up and to this day as the legend goes she is still looking in every home for the Christ Child. She flies on her broom to each house that is home to a child. La Befana leaves gifts in every house she visits in case one of them happens to be the Christ Child.

Smemorina
08-06-2006, 06:27 AM
:grin:
thanks for have translate...
I m sad not to know English, but I do not succeed to learn I do not understand the reason but I do not succeed
it pardons!
http://img139.imageshack.us/img139/6663/cid65d0282bff08462f9a0376f3eafd2f84gp9.gif (http://imageshack.us)

sheepsnot
08-06-2006, 07:30 PM
That's OK, Smemorina. That is why we are a good team. You add a unique and wonderful flavor to this forum, even if someone needs to translate after you. :D

AuntieMistletoeDear
08-07-2006, 06:01 AM
:cool: I also value your contributions to the forum, Smemorina.

I am happy that I am sometimes able to help clarify the things you are trying to say with the translator.

8-) Sheep, I don't know very much Italien, in Junior High most of my friends were Italien so I picked up a bit here and there.
:D I know Christmas and have always enjoyed learning about how other people celebrate and I have a good memory for things to do with Christmas.

Smemorina
08-07-2006, 06:19 AM
:grin:


http://img71.imageshack.us/img71/6083/thanksroseqn2.th.jpg (http://img71.imageshack.us/my.php?image=thanksroseqn2.jpg)

Thanks... I when I can share with you will be indeed happy, and never lascerò this my made family of wonderful persons that you are all, and my Santa beloved
:eek:

Ervserver
10-16-2006, 05:08 PM
:grin:

LA VERA STORIA

La Befana, (termine che è corruzione di Epifania, cioè manifestazione) è nell’immaginario collettivo un mitico personaggio con l’aspetto da vecchia che porta doni ai bambini buoni la notte tra il 5 e il 6 gennaio.


a real interesting story that I knew nothing about until joining this forum

Smemorina
10-16-2006, 05:22 PM
:grin:

In italiano o meglio, nel mio dialetto c'è una filastrocca che si canta il 6 gennaio festa della Befana...
La Befana vien di notte
con le scarpe tutte rotte
con il vestito da furlana
viva viva la Befana....

:grin:
In Italian or better, in my dialect there is a a sing-songs that he sings on January 6 party of the Epiphany
The Epiphany comes at night
with the shoes all routs
with the friulana suit
W W the Epiphany....


FRIULANA = from the friuli
Ciao ciaooo

Ervserver
10-16-2006, 05:33 PM
The nice thing about the internet is I can easily translate Italian :-)

jenifour13
10-18-2006, 01:58 PM
I have been married to my Italian husband for 8 years. We have been together for 20. (Since I was 14). I just learned something that I never knew before. I immediately called my MIL to ask her about this and it was so neat to learn something new about her culture. This was great!! Thanks!!

Smemorina
10-18-2006, 02:19 PM
:grin:
An embrace to you and your husband!
Him or his family, does it arrive from Italy from where?
I can look for a tradition of his/her country of origin... 8)
Ciao ciao

http://img201.imageshack.us/img201/5750/befanaxh8.th.jpg (http://img201.imageshack.us/my.php?image=befanaxh8.jpg) http://img201.imageshack.us/img201/6792/befana2ru4.th.jpg (http://img201.imageshack.us/my.php?image=befana2ru4.jpg)

Ervserver
10-30-2006, 02:24 PM
allegro festa

sheepsnot
10-30-2006, 03:27 PM
Now you're just showing off!

Ervserver
10-30-2006, 04:18 PM
ok ok I heard it on TV

:o

Christmas Angel
11-22-2006, 01:02 PM
I am very proud of myself.... I read most of it in italian and pretty much understood it. I knew I would use my 4 yrs of high school italian some were. Plus it doesn't hurt that I know the story of La befana already.

Christmas Angel
11-22-2006, 01:02 PM
PS. Thanks for sharing that...it was neat.