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La Befana / the Epiphany
I am not really sure how much you know about La Befana, but I took the liberty of sharing with you some fun things that I vividly remember. La Befana or Epiphany is celebrated on the 6th of every January, and many of you probably are aware that the twelfth night after Christmas is considered a special night, filled with magic because it coincides with the raising moon. From this event derives the word “Epifania”, which really means manifestation of moon light. The difference between Christmas and the Epiphany it that the first is a solar feast, whereas the latter is highly connected with the moon.
The Epiphany (a name that derives from the Greek term “epi-fanea”), appears in the sky on the twelfth night, portraying a transfiguration of dying nature. This is the reason why Epiphany appears in the form of an old lady, or Vecia as they affectionately address her in Northern Italy.
La Befana is an archetypical figure that is linked with an ancient myth that portrays her to be a generous lender of the fruits of the earth. Her gifts mostly alimentary are a reflection of the winter solstice, such as dry fruit, apples, oranges, tangerines and nuts. On the other end, however, charcoal and ashes, are both present in the stocking of children that miss behaving. Historically, the feast of the Epiphany, was celebrated in Rome already in the Second Century, and the Befanate pranks of the Romani included burning old wood which represented Mother Nature, in a festive symbolism of replacement.......out with the old and in with new. This form of exorcism was nothing more than a rebellion against past deprivation, and in many cases the consumption of fowl and pigeons was the revenge of a year of stagnant alimentation.
The Befana’s myth was probably developed from pagan origins, perhaps a lady that lived near a charcoal source in remote mountainous areas. Also called the wife of a humanoid monster, she would bring a stocking filled with dead wood and charcoal to miss behaving children and food gifts such as citrus, dry fruit, and spicy biscotti made with sugar and black pepper to those who had been good. Until recent times, the antique rituals for the celebration of the Epiphany was connected to agrarian cult with foods based on legumes and pork, and in many areas of Italy and Europe the tradition of baking the Torte of the Three Wise man is still very popular.
This ancient tradition consists of baking a cake shaped like a focaccia, with dry fava and other peculiar nuts hidden in the mixing. The invited guests fortunate enough to find the legume or nuts in their respective slices, become the kings of the night, and quickly incarnated into the saturnalia of the Christian traditions, enjoying rustic sweets shaped like flowers and animals.
Growing up in Italy, sharing gifts during Christmas was never an important ritual, and I don’t recall ever getting a present during that time, but in the evening of the Epiphany, I always remember the fires lit in abundance in the nearby farms, and was told that in different regions the names of the fires varied. In Tuscany they were called “natalecci”, in Friuli they were “pignarui”, and their ashes were scattered around the nearby farms with auspice of a prosperous year, and a wonderful crop. In Veneto, however the most unusual of all the events occurred; the fabled Vecia got to be lit on fire over stacks of blended wood.
And while the Vecia was burning, the typical Befanate would occur. Children and adults sang and caused senseless pranks, while walking the streets eating warm chestnuts. In our home, on the night of January the 5th, we made sure that when la Befana slid through the chimney found three socks, for my self, my brother and my little sister. They were hanging from the cast-iron hook which held the copper pot my mother used daily for the family cooking, or from additional nails sparsely found in the darkness of the fire place. In our imagination la Befana always had holes in her shoes, and if it was shoes that she needed, then she would take a pair and leave plenty of gifts in return.
If shoes were not the necessity, then she would leave a new pair filled with wonderful gifts and soft chocolates. Many of my friends replaced the socks and shoes with wicker baskets, dishes, and large hats. However, socks were the most popular, because they were made of wool, and would stretch to accommodate additional offerings.
It was the spirit of human greed already prevalent at such young age. Today, la Befana is not as popular for me as it was growing up in Italy, but I still receive my generous offering of charcoal, every year…………. sometimes balanced with a lofty basket of clementines.
Ciambella dei re Magi / the Torte of the Three Wise Man
This cake will take about an hour to make, but you’ll love it! I have included oranges, but tangerines can be also used.
Serve 6 – 8
INGREDIENTS:
3 oranges 4 ounces walnut meats, chopped 4 tablespoons and 1 -3/4 cups sugar 4 eggs, separated 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted 1 - 3/4 cup flour 1 - 1/2 teaspoons baking powder 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract A pinch of salt 6 -8 fava beans dry / optional
PREPARATION:
1) Begin by cooking 4 tablespoons of sugar in a non-stick ring pan. Peel two of the oranges, slice them into wedges, and line the pan with them.
2) Grate the zest of the remaining orange, and squeeze it.
3) Sift the flour with the baking powder.
4) Pre-heat your oven to 360 F (180 C).
In a cold bowl whip the whites to firm peaks with a pinch of salt. In another, beat the yolks with the remaining sugar until the mixture is pale yellow, then stir in the orange zest and juice, the walnut meats, the melted butter, the vanilla extract, and sift the flour into the mixture, stirring until the batter is smooth and uniform. Fold in the beaten egg whites and pour the batter into the ring mould. Bake for 40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out dry. Remove the ciambella from the oven, let it cool, and un-mold it, running a thin-bladed knife along the edges to separate it.
For decoration, cut one large orange into thin horizontal slices, and some minced nutmeats. Fill the ring center and serve.
Note: scatter 6 to 8 dry fava beans in the batter before baking the ciambella…….children can re-create the true meaning of Epiphany
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