Befana

High school (ages 12+)
Holidays & Celebrations

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/befana

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the cultural origin?Italian folklore and folk customs
2. What is the primary association?Epiphany Eve (night of January 5th)
3. Who is Befana and when does she visit children?Befana is a friendly witch who flies on a broomstick on the night of January 5th, the eve of Epiphany, to visit children.
4. What gifts does Befana bring to good children?She gives sweets, candies, and toys to children who have been good.

Syncretism: The merging of different religious, cultural, or philosophical beliefs, creating a new, hybrid system.
Folklore: The traditional beliefs, customs, and stories of a community, passed through generations by word of mouth.
Epiphany: A Christian feast day celebrated on January 6th, commemorating the manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles, particularly the visit of the Magi.