While many children wait for the arrival of Santa Claus on Christmas Eve, the children of Italy await instead until the Epiphany. And instead of Santa, they await a visit from a good-natured witch – La Befana.
The story of La Befana, who wanders the countryside with her lantern in search of baby Jesus and leaves handmade gifts and treats in his honor, is told again this year at the 2021 EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays.
The storytellers have returned this year for the festival, after being off for a year.
La Befana can be found at the Italy pavilion telling how she climbs down the chimney to fill children’s socks with handmade gifts and treats. However, the naughty kids get a lump of coal.
LaBefana’s story is the next in a series we have been sharing. We previously shared the stories of:
- Father Christmas in the United Kingdom pavilion
- Père Noël, who retells the story of Babette in the France pavilion
- Levi the Hanukkah storyteller
You can find La Befana now through Dec. 30 at the Italy pavilion during the following times:
- 11:30 a.m.
- 12:15 p.m.
- 1 p.m.
- 2:40 p.m.
- 3:35 p.m.
- 4:20 p.m.
- 5:05 p.m.
- 5:45 p.m.
