Buona Befana !

Florence’s Befana (or Epiphany Witch) spends Epiphany delivering toys and sweets to patients and staff at Meyer children’s hospital just outside of town, and then leads a cortege of historic cars down the hill, along the Arno, across the Ponte Vecchio and finally into Piazza della Repubblica.

The children had never met the Befana before. She had, however, over the years, left them many a gift on January 6. Italian children hang stockings on this day, anticipating her generosity, and not coal (or coal-shaped candy), which fills the stocking of those who have been naughty.

She was delightful and homely, generous and warm, and fit their defintion of what a Befana should be.  She had a strong Tuscan accent.  And she arrived in a magnificent blue 1933 Peugeot.

Buona Befana a tutti !