Infuse your Christmas holidays with some paganism: Italian folklore is here to help.
Originated in Rome, the Befana is a witch that brings sweets and candy to good children in the night between Jan 5 and Jan 6.
You can reward her by living some lentils and wine (she really loves wine).
Beware if you've been bad. In recent times she will fill your socks with coal, but there are some darker story out there. #Befana#epiphany#folklore#Italy
@alx the continuation of pagan traditions and how they have infused into Christian rituals is a really interesting part of humanity. I’ve been listening to this fantastic book that really digs into it, and what actually constitutes “wine”
@lignin_creation I don't know the book, but you can find many festivities in Rome that have been embedded in Christianity: the Carnival and Ferragosto are some of the most notorious (after Christmas itself, which was the ancient celebration of the Saturnalia).
Thank you for the suggestion!
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