Almost half, or 45% of Italian
families will hang an Epiphany stocking this year, an Ixe'
survey for Coldiretti farmers' association showed Tuesday.
The Epiphany is a national holiday occurring on January 6
inspired by the story of the arrival of the Three Wise Men in
Bethlehem with gifts for the newborn Jesus.
In pre-Christian Antiquity, worshipers celebrated the
rebirth of Nature after the winter solstice at the end of
December.
Legend had it that Mother Nature, exhausted by all her work
in the year just past, transformed herself into a little old
woman who distributed gifts as a symbol of the sowing season to
come. She then burned herself, so that her younger version could
rise from ashes.
In Italy, this legendary old woman who delivers gifts on
her broomstick is known as La Befana.
She is said to visit children on the eve of January 6 to
fill their stockings with candy and presents if they have been
good or a lump of coal or dark candy if they have been bad.
This year health-conscious consumers in a country where one
third of children are obese will place dried fruits and nuts in
the stocking along with homemade cookies in the stocking,
according to Coldiretti.
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