! In Italy, families decorate with ______. Most families have a ______. On January 6th, a good witch named ______, comes and leaves______.
' flowers Nativity La Befana presents
Draw a picture of what you learned: Italy Italy In Italy, the Christmas season lasts three weeks. It starts eight days before Christmas. The first nine days, with Christmas Day as the ninth day, is known as Novena. These nine days are full of prayers and worship. Christmas celebrations go all the way until January 6th, which is known as the Day of Epiphany. Italians decorate for Christmas with trees and other Christmas decorations. Most families display a presepe (a nativity scene). The Italians are very fond of the nativity scene. Creating the nativity scene actually originated in Italy. Children don’t open their presents until January 6th, the Day of Epiphany. On this day, the children wait for a visit from a good witch on a broomstick named “La Befana”. According to the legend, the three kings told La Befana that baby Jesus was born, but she was busy sweeping and delayed going to see the baby. She missed the star, lost her way, and has been flying around on her broom ever since. She slides down chimneys, leaving presents for children and searching for baby Jesus. Italy Click the blue links to visit each website/book.
The Legend of Old Befana by Tomie dePaola
http://www.santas.net/italianchristmas.htm
http://www.theholidayspot.com/christmas/worldxmas/ italy.htm http://italian.about.com/library/weekly/aa120600a.htm
http://www.kids-world-travel-guide.com/christmas-in- italy.html Italy
*Students can do a drawing of what they think La Befana looks like.
*Read the poem to your students and teach it to them. I use actions with the poem. Have the students write the poem in their very best handwriting.
*La Befana’s broom {attach to poem}- See next page
Italy
*La Befana’s Broom- Make a broom using a brown paper bag and black constructions paper.
1. Roll the construction paper up and glue the edges.
2. Cut the paper bag up and make slits {like fringe}. They can then cut off the bottom about 1 inch to shorten the broom.
3. Attach the broom to the broomstick using a rubber band. Befana
By: La Befana La Befana flies on her broomstick. From door to door she goes. Giving holiday gifts to Italian children- Looking for what? No one knows. La Befana ////////////////////////// ////////////////////////// ////////////////////////// ////////////////////////// ////////////////////////// Name: