La Befana - Italian

Once, a kind lady named Befana lived in a cozy little cottage. She loved to keep her house very, very tidy. Swoosh, swoosh went her broom all day long. Her floors were so shiny you could see your face in them. One chilly night, there was a loud knock, knock, knock at her door. When Befana opened it, three grand kings stood there in sparkling robes. They were following a big, bright star in the sky to find a very special baby. They asked Befana to come with them. This is the story of La Befana.

Befana looked at her broom and her duster. 'Oh, I am much too busy to go tonight,' she told the kind kings. 'I must finish my chores.' The kings waved goodbye and went on their way. The little house was quiet again, but Befana felt a little sad in her heart. She looked out the window and saw the big, bright star twinkling far, far away. Suddenly, she wished she had gone. She quickly packed a basket with sweet treats and fun toys, grabbed her broom, and flew out the door to catch up. But when she looked up, the star and the kings were gone.

Befana never found the special baby that night, but she decided she would never stop looking. So now, every year on the night of January 5th, she hops on her broomstick and flies across the big night sky. Whoosh. She peeks into every house where children are sleeping. For the children who have been good, she leaves a little toy or a sweet candy. For those who have been a little naughty, she leaves a lump of black coal that is really a sweet candy in disguise. Befana shares her joy with every child, reminding us all that it is never too late to be kind.