Tag Archives: Epifania
The Three Kings Arrive in Florence Posted by Serena on Jan 6, 2016
In the early 1990’s I worked at the archaeological museum in Florence. I used to commute there every day from Lucca by train and then walk from La Stazione Santa Maria Novella to the museum. If I had time, I’d stop for a few minutes at Palazzo Medici Riccardi and visit La Cappella Dei Magi…
Gennaio Posted by Serena on Jan 10, 2011
Gennaio (January), the first month of the year, takes its name from Janus, the Roman god of gates and beginnings who is represented with two faces, one on the front and one on the back of his head. Principali Festività (Main Festivals): On the first of January we celebrate Capodanno (New Year’s Day). On the…
I Befanini Posted by Serena on Jan 5, 2010
Once upon a time in Italy children used to receive their Christmas presents on the Epifania (Epiphany – the 6th of January), instead of on Christmas day. On the eve of Epifania children would hang a stocking near their bed or next to the fireplace, where the mythical kindly old peasant woman known as la Befana would fill them with biscuits, oranges, dried…
Viva la Befana Posted by Serena on Jan 6, 2009
“Epifania, tutte le feste si porta via” (Epiphany brings an end to all the festivities). Epifania, a Latin word with Greek origins, means “(festival of) the apparition” or “manifestation (of the divinity)”. In the Catholic church the Epifania celebrates the visit of the Re Magi (the Wise Kings) to Gesu’ Bambino (Baby Jesus) on the…