: Children recite a famous rhyme that begins: "La Befana vien di notte, con le scarpe tutte rotte..." ("The Befana comes at night, with her shoes all broken...").
: According to the legend, the Three Wise Men stopped at her house to ask for directions to Bethlehem. They invited her to join them, but she refused because she was too busy with housework. Later, she regretted her decision and set out with a bag of gifts to find the Christ child. She never found him, so she continues to travel the world every year, leaving treats for good children and coal for naughty ones. Di notte
This is the most famous association for Italians. It is a traditional legend about an old woman (often described as a witch) who delivers gifts to children across Italy on the eve of the Epiphany (January 5th). : Children recite a famous rhyme that begins:
In Italian, "" simply means "at night". While not a single specific story itself, the phrase is central to several famous Italian tales, legends, and literary works. Later, she regretted her decision and set out
The most iconic "proper" stories associated with this phrase include: 1. The Legend of La Befana ( La Befana vien di notte )