Italian folktale taps into the true meaning of Christmas

This week is a little different, but I love this story so much that I just needed to share the Italian folktale of La Befana.
I first heard this story in my high school Italian class, and it’s a bit weird. Unfortunately, it’s not one that has been translated into very many videos or books that I can refer you to. So, I’ll just tell it.
There are some blog posts and YouTube videos, which talk about La Befana, but this is the version of the story I like the most.
Since it is a folktale, there are a couple different versions, but the overall message is the same.
La Befana translates to the witch, and she’s known as the Italian Christmas Witch, although she’s more associated with Epiphany Eve on Jan. 6.
Befana lived on the edge of a small town in Italy, where she was a bit of an outcast and the villagers would make fun of her. She wasn’t very nice back.
One day, a knock came to Befana’s door, and she opened it to find three kings standing there. They told her they were traveling to Bethlehem to bring gifts to the child marked by a star.
They asked if she had water to spare, but she said no. They asked if she had food to spare, but she said no. They asked if they could come inside to rest for a bit, but she said no.
Lastly, the kings asked Befana to join them and travel to Bethlehem to see the child, but she had too many chores to do.
Later that day, she regretted her decision and ran after the kings.
Despite growing tired, she never stopped and could never catch up to them.
There’s a part in her journey where she flies over some water. That was the weird part of the story, and my class couldn’t take the movie we were watching seriously, so I don’t remember the details about it. She does fly though.
Ultimately, Befana grows disheartened she can’t find the kings or Bethlehem.
She goes into a church and stumbles upon a nativity scene. Befana kneels before the baby Jesus, apologizing that she wasn’t able to find him.
The child speaks to her and tells her it was never her destiny to find him. Rather, he tells her to deliver gifts to the other children because “you never know who will be the next savior.”
In some versions of the folktale, she comes to that conclusion on her own; sometimes the kings have a group with them, and others they’re traveling alone.
Several versions have Befana obsessed with sweeping, so she carries a broom, which is how she flies and cleans the rooms of kids when she brings them presents.
However, the message is always the same. Befana tells us that every child deserves love, appreciation, presents and the chance to reach their full potential.
Every person is a gift with the chance to make a positive lasting impact on the world.
Part of why I loved this story so much is that it actually taps into a point. I think for a lot of people in America, Christmas is mostly commercial and ritual at this point. We forget why we do it. La Befana keeps a reminder of what it’s all about; positivity, joy and helping others.
Michael Shine is a staff writer at the Daily American Republic. He can be reached at mshine.dar@gmail.com.