There are those who expect it more than the gifts under the tree brought by Santa Claus: the Epiphany stocking, filled with sweets (or charcoal) from the Befana, is a deeply felt tradition, and in some reasons of Italy it is traditionally the true protagonist of the wishes of children.
Once, left hanging on the fireplace or near the bed in the evening before going to sleep, the Befana’s stocking was magically filled during the night with oranges, dried fruit, and even toys, for the lucky ones. Today, in most cases, the old lady who arrives riding a flying broom slips some small sweets, candies and various chocolates into her stockings.
The Befana and her stocking: the legend
But where does it come from the tradition of waiting for the Befana on the night of the Epiphany, and to leave a stocking for her to fill with sweet gifts? The origin of this custom is not entirely certain. The most accredited hypothesis links the figure of the Befana to that of an old woman whom the Magi met on their way to Bethlehem. They asked her for directions on the right path to take, explaining that they were bringing gifts to the newborn baby Jesus. The old woman, however, despite their noble intent, did not help them, but was then overcome with remorse for not having followed them, and began to chase them, bringing with her a basket full of sweets to offer as a gift. On his way he knocked house by house, giving sweets to the children in the hope that one of them could be the Child Jesus. As for the symbol of the sock, which does not find a precise place in this story, it seems that it dates back to the Numa Pompilius, one of the seven kings of Rome, who hung a stocking in a cave during the winter solstice, to have it filled with gifts by a nymph. Finally, the carbone: now only present in its sugar version, coal is the symbol of what remains of the propitiatory bonfire at the end of the year. Children who have not behaved well will be left with only the ashes of the past year, and no good omen for the one that has just begun.
The best sweets to fill the sock with
If it is true that the Epiphany takes all holidays away, then we can also celebrate it properly, giving ourselves some last transgression before starting the diet.
Waking up and discovering the Befana sock full of good things is a joy that can be rediscovered even in adulthood, so we recommend some quality sweets to stuff your sock on the night of January 6th, to buy online from all over Italy.
You can find them in our gallery.
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