What is Italian Epiphany?
On January 6 in Italy, as in other countries of the world, the Epiphany is celebrated. The epiphany is a party felt especially by children who on this day receive the stocking.
There are various traditions throughout Italy and the celebrations change from region to region; in some parades are organized, in others are traditional bonfires and in others, the streets of the cities are filled with markets.
The Epiphany is also the last day of vacation for children and the day to remove the Christmas decorations from the house. It is said that “L’Epifania che tutte le feste porta via” translated in " The Epiphany all the holidays take away".
Why is La Befana celebrated?
The Befana has very ancient origins to date back to the times of the Romans. For the Romans, the Epiphany flying over the fields should have brought prosperity in the harvest.
According to Christian tradition, the Epiphany celebrates the arrival of the Magi to the manger of Jesus with gifts.
For the most recent tradition, the Epiphany is a symbol of the past year, and that’s why it is represented old while bringing candy to children as a symbol of good luck for the new year.
How is La Befana?
The Epiphany is represented as an old lady with old, shabby clothes, broken shoes and on top of a broom.
In the night between the 5th and the 6th of January, the Befana flies over the roofs of the houses and fills the socks of the children with sweets for the good children and coal for the bad children. I must say, however, that I loved coal as a child because it was made of black sugar. This is the tradition that is now the same among all the regions of Italy from north to south; while traditions change in the way of celebrating this day. What are the traditions of Epiphany?Italian Traditions
In my little town, you burn the old one. From small to large, everyone gathers near the river; located in the middle of the river there is a high pile of wood and on top of it there is the Epiphany: it is called Pan and Vin. The divers swim in with the torches in their hands and light the bonfire. According to tradition, the direction of the ash tells whether it will be a good year or a bad year.
At the end of the bonfire, the stocking with sweets inside is delivered to children while for adults there is mulled wine and Pinza. Pinza is a traditional Venetian cake made with stale bread, milk and dried fruit. The tradition of the bonfire is very rooted between Veneto and Friuli Venezia Giulia where every small town has its bonfire placed in water or on land and its Befana to burn. Venice
The Regatta is typical in Venice. The regatta is a parade of boats in the Grand Canal and becomes special for the Epiphany because the people inside the boats dress like the Epiphany or Santa Claus.
Milan
Every year in Milan the Epiphany is celebrated with a parade. From the Duomo to the Basilica of Sant'Eustorgio a procession of people dressed as the wise men parade through the streets with gifts to be given to a living crib.
Rome
In Rome, the Epiphany is celebrated in Piazza Navona with stalls selling sweets and games and then people move to see the traditional parade "Viva la Befana".
Naples
In Naples, the Befana is celebrated in Piazza del Plebiscito that every year is coloured and populated with markets that sell sweets, toys and typical Neapolitan food.
Each Italian region is unique and different and for this reason, each one has its own traditions to celebrate January 6 the important thing is to find the stocking full of sweets.
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I always wondered, am I the only one obsessed with the Christmas Markets?
I have a strange relationship with Christmas, I love the decorations, the atmosphere, the lights and of course, the markets but I don't really like Christmas day; but the beauty and the feeling that the Christmas markets give me are fantastic, and how beautiful are they?
I am little sad this year because, of course, due to Covid I cannot go where I planned, that was Zurich, but in the past years I went almost every weekend of December to visit one, and I can say that I also saw enough for this year hahaha.
The best thing about Christmas Market?
Well, I love the atmosphere of Christmas the colourful lights, the decorations on the trees and houses and all this little wood house selling handmade decorations or typical products, but the best part, in my opinion? The warm, mulled wine and the amazing food that is different from almost every market.
I have a select bucket list for the Christmas Market, and I like, when I have the opportunity to visit one big market and some small around me. For example, last year I went to Galway and some smaller in Italy.
BEST CHRISTMAS MARKET SO FAR…
(The descriptions are based on what I saw that particular year and they can change)
I hope you enjoyed this post, feel free to share it on Social Media and please leave a comment and let me know what do you think about it.
Since this year I can not go to see any Christmas Market Join me on Social Media and let me see your best photos of the Christmas Markets, so I will travel with the imagination! #tastravelnow
I am not a big fan of Halloween probably because I grew up in Italy and there it is not a "thing"; I never wore a scary costume, I never went to a Halloween party, and I think I went just one time to trick or treating.
When I moved to Ireland it was the end of September, and I immediately saw that Halloween was a big deal. Many amazing decorated houses and shops, fireworks for almost a month, party for two weekends and of course, dressed up people with amazing and scary costumes. Even at work, there were a "party" and prizes for the best costume; as I said, Halloween is a big deal!
Do you know the story about Halloween?
Halloween was born in Ireland; people thought that October 31 was the end of the light part of the year and the beginning of the dark part of the year. During this passage, souls who had died during the year could return to give a final goodbye to their loved ones, but evil souls could come back too. To prevent evil souls from leading you to the side of the dead, people began to dress as monsters in order not to be recognized. In addition, to prevent evil souls from inside the houses, they began to decorate the houses with scary witches, ghosts or monsters. And, of course, you could not miss some food-based treatment to keep evil souls away from home (in the past the treatment was nuts and fruit now are candy; just trick or treat).
This year 2020, the shitty year, of course, you cannot celebrate Halloween, but I still found something to do which is complete safety, and I must say that I loved it and it was very fun!
I went on a dark tour. The tour consisted of a two-hour walk around Dublin with a guide telling us ghost stories and dark stories, and I liked it for three main reasons: 1. It was a fantastic sunny day, and other people on tour were Irish or lived in Ireland for many years, so the atmosphere was more "familiar" to everyone. 2. The guide was amazing. He was happy to share with us the stories, and you could feel it because he was enthusiastic and very friendly with us. He was also an amazing storyteller. 3. Finally, but not least, Ireland and the Irish people of the past (and in a different way also now) were very dark, some stories are really disturbing and scary, while others, fortunately, are funny.
The tour started from Dublin Castle with a creepy story set on the only left tower of the castle. Then we moved to Saint Patrick Cathedral, a long stop to Christchurch with scary stories, and we finished to the other side of the river; in total 2 hours walk surrounded by dark and mystery.
I want to share four stories that I liked most.
Do you like Halloween? I would love to hear stories form your city, your traditions during this holiday and what you like about it. Leave a comment and let me know :)
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