The Eve of Epiphany 2026 - the last of the Holy Nights The Christmas Witch, La Befana, is celebrated tonight on the Eve of Epiphany – The lore of the Wise Healer Woman who hosted the 3 Magi began a many years ago & remains to this day a tradition upheld by many folks with an Italian heritage. (my father’s people are from Montefegatesi, the highest of the Bagni di Lucca villages in Tuscany) Her Feast is also practiced in many Waldorf schools.
The Legend: This story takes place at the time of the birth of the Matthew Jesus. La Befana is a respected Crone who lives in a hut in the hills of Italy. Befana spends her days keeping the hearth fires burning - making her herb potions, baking, sweeping, & studying her old books, when she’s not needed as a healer. One year, Befana is drawn by a bright light in the sky, she watches it every night while saying her bedtime prayers. One day, as she forsaw in a dream, a glorious caravan led by Three Kings stopped at her hut. La Befana fed them, & they talked together sharing their wisdom long into the night. They invited her to join them in following the Star to the New born King in Bethlehem. But just then, a worried mother brought her sick child to La Befana, so she told the Wise Men to go on ahead without her, & she would catch up later. After the caravan disappeared over the hills, she remembered the box of old toys that she had collected over the years, many that were tossed out because they were broken. She had fixed & re-painted them, handing them out to every child who needed one, because she loved seeing them smile. So, after making sure all was well in the village. she placed some baked goods, & gifts for the Christ-child in a sack, took her broom to help the new mother clean, & raced out after the caravan in search of the Baby Jesus. And just as she was starting to get very tired, angels appeared from the magic star in the Heavens, to give flight to La Befana on her broom – it was a night of miracles after all! But La Befana was soon sidetracked by all the people who needed her healing along the way. And she came to see that it was her part to go where she was needed.
La Befana still works her magic, even today, after all these centuries. And so, every year on the eve of the Epiphany, whenever La Befana comes to a house where there is a child who believes, she drops in leaving her good will along the way - For La Befana has come to realize over the years, that the Christ Child is found in all children. Ever since then the old wise woman has become well celebrated. In fact, Befana’s name comes from the ancient Greek word epi-Fanos which means: Shining forth, a striking appearance, a vision of The Divine - The Manifestation of God - which fits because The Feast of the Epiphany, on January 6th, celebrates the moment when The Cosmic Being of Christ enters into the sheaths of Jesus of Nazareth at the Baptism. This celebration, before the time of the Magi’s visit, & the Baptism of Jesus in the Jordan, often included healing purification rites, & benedictions with water. So now, on the eve, the tradition is to set water out by the fireplace for La Befana so she can bless it, giving it sacred properties that can bring healing, & ward off evil spirits. The Feast of La Bafana is one of the most popular Italian feasts, especially in the backcountry or in the hills. In our family after emptying the Christmas stocking of all the goodies, we place it next to a tall glass of water, & all the outgrown toys we want to give away, so La Bafana can pass them on to others.
Blessings Dear Ones, on this last Holy Night. ~hag
Our 20+C+M+B+26 Holy Night Community Offering“Solvitur Ambulando = It is solved by walking”Epiphany Eve Monday 5 January 2026 from 7-8:30 PMat the new home of Hazel Archer & Chuck Ginsberg We will begin with some Leading Thoughts We can Sing Together. I have music for ‘We Three Kings’, ‘Over the Hill and Over the Dale’, & the words to ‘Though my Soul’. Then we will walk the indoor Labyrinth for our the Moving Meditation. The labyrinth is an ancient symbol that relates to wholeness. Combining the imagery of the circle & the spiral into a meandering but purposeful path, it represents a journey to our own center & back out again into the world; much like the seed from Winter to Spring. Labyrinths have long been used as meditation & prayer tools. It is an archetype with which we can have a direct experience of sacred geometry. Walking the labyrinth is a potent practice of Self-Integration, awakening the Divine knowledge encoded within our DNA, fortifying our vital forces for the New Year. Petra will play her Sounding Bowl by Tobias Kaye. Please bring your instrument if you would like to contribute some musical accompaniment. Bring warm socks, or slippers. RSVP Hazel@CogRite.com ~hag
Here’s the link to a compendium of Free Video Presentaions
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Monday, 5 January 2026
The Feast of La Befana
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