What Is La Befana? The Italian Epiphany Tradition Children Love

In Italy, the Christmas season does not end on December 25th.

For many Italian families, the season continues until Epiphany, celebrated on January 6th. On the night before the Epiphany, January 5th, children throughout Italy wait for a beloved figure from Italian folklore:

La Befana.

La Befana is an old woman who travels from house to house on Epiphany Eve, bringing small gifts, sweets, and treats to children. Italian children often hang stockings for La Befana, just as many children hang stockings for Christmas.

But La Befana is more than a charming holiday character. She is part of a deeply loved Italian tradition, passed down through generations of families.

At Italian Children’s Market, this tradition is especially close to our hearts.

Our picture book, The Night of La Befana: An Italian Legend, was created to share the authentic version of the La Befana legend that was passed down in our own Italian family. The story came from our father, whose mother told him the same version when he was a child in Italy.

This is the La Befana we grew up knowing.

The Story Behind The Night of La Befana

The Night of La Befana: An Italian Legend was retold by Maria Centofanti Pritchard and illustrated by Isabella Centofanti Alexander. First published in 2010, it remains one of our best-selling and most beloved products.

The book tells the ancient Italian legend of a quiet, reclusive old woman named Befana. In the village, people whisper about her, wonder about her, and do not quite understand her.

Then, one mysterious night, three royally dressed men arrive. They are following a star in search of the Christ Child, and they invite Befana to join them.

At first, Befana refuses.

But when she wakes and regrets her decision, her journey begins.

That journey is the reason January 5th became known as the Night of La Befana. It is also why Italian children hang stockings on the eve of the Epiphany, waiting for La Befana to visit.

A Hand-Illustrated Italian Picture Book

Every illustration in The Night of La Befana was painted by hand in watercolor. The artwork was created to reflect the feeling of Italy, especially the old villages, stone streets, doors, homes, and landscapes that are part of Italian life and memory.

The village scenes were inspired by our father’s Italian village, and the character of La Befana herself was modeled after our Italian grandmother.

That is what makes this book so meaningful to us. It is not just a retelling of a legend. It is a family story, a cultural memory, and a way to help children understand a beautiful Italian tradition.

The book is written in English, making it easy for Italian American families, grandparents, parents, teachers, and children outside of Italy to enjoy the legend together.

Why La Befana Matters

La Befana is one of the most authentic and beloved traditions in Italian folklore.

She helps children experience the magic of the Italian Christmas season beyond Christmas Day. She also introduces them to the Feast of the Epiphany, the story of the Three Kings, and the custom of keeping the holiday season alive until the twelfth day of Christmas.

For Italian American children and families living outside of Italy, La Befana is a wonderful way to stay connected to Italian heritage. Her story brings together faith, folklore, family, storytelling, and tradition.

That is why so many families search for La Befana books, La Befana dolls, and La Befana gifts each year.

They are looking for a way to keep this Italian tradition alive.

Our La Befana Cloth Doll

After creating the book, we later added a La Befana cloth doll because we thought it would be lovely for a child to hold La Befana while reading the story — or while a parent or grandparent reads the legend aloud on Epiphany Eve.

Our La Befana doll was designed to reflect the character in The Night of La Befana. She is sweet, simple, and traditional, representing the old woman from Italian folklore who brings treats and small gifts to children on the eve of the Epiphany.

She can be placed on a mantel, shelf, under the Christmas tree, or anywhere in the home as a reminder of this beloved Italian custom.

The doll helps make the tradition more tangible for children. They can see her, hold her, and begin to understand that La Befana is part of a story their family can celebrate year after year.

A Beautiful Italian Tradition to Share With Children

At Italian Children’s Market, our mission has always been to help children connect with the Italian language, culture, traditions, and heritage in meaningful ways.

La Befana is a perfect example of that mission.

Through a hand-illustrated picture book, a simple cloth doll, and a story passed down from our Italian family, children can discover one of Italy’s most treasured holiday legends.

Whether your family has celebrated La Befana for generations or you are introducing the tradition for the first time, we hope The Night of La Befana brings warmth, wonder, and Italian heritage into your home.

May this beautiful legend continue to be told, read, remembered, and loved by children for generations to come.

Buona Epifania!
Isabella Centofanti
Founder, ItalianChildren’sMarket.com