Happy Epiphany!  Last night the Befana came.  The story goes more or less like this.  When the three wise men were following the star in search of baby Jesus, they passed the house of an old woman in Sicily and stopped to ask her directions.  (I'd say they needed them if they were in Sicily).  The old woman was busy sweeping her house and wouldn't give them the time of day so they went on their way, eventually finding Jesus on January 5th, (the 12th day of Christmas), and giving him the gifts they had brought.  (Why Epiphany is celebrated the day after I don't know).  Well the old woman started to feel guilty about not helping them, so she packed up her donkey with toys (she just happened to have hanging around) and her trusty broom, (cause you never know when you might need to sweep something), and headed off after the wise men.  She never found them nor the baby Jesus but to this day she wanders the world (or at least Italy) and leaves gifts for every child she finds on the evening of January 5th.  The Befana, from the word Epifania, is represented now as an old witch, flying on her broom with a bag of gifts on her back.  Hmmm.  Sounds familiar.  So Italian kids get gifts from Babbo Natale ie: Father Christmas, or the baby Jesus on Christmas and gifts from the Befana on Epifany.  These kids make out.  Grace got some cool gloves and candy and that's it! 

Tomorrow we're back at school and I officially start the saga of getting my Italian driver's license.

 Step 1:  Take 2 passport photos (white background, no smile) to town office to be notarized. 

Wish me luck.  xxoo me