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| PPG Wintergarden/la Befana |
Today, January 6th , is the
Italian celebration of la Befana which ends the Italian holiday season. Pittsburgh is a city with a collage of ethnic families and neighborhoods that spill various traditions from all over
the world into the mix of the city. The book, Everything I Need to Know about Christmas, I Learned from A little
Golden Book , remarks that the Christmas season ,“ is a time for
traditions.” This is the focus at the PPG Wintergarden display of “Spirits of Giving From Around the World ” which has 16 life sized “Santas” and explains the traditional Santa story for each country. I love to go every year but in this new journey, I focused and learned more about the one from my
ancestry- the Italian la Befana.
Reflection
The traditional story is that on the night
before Epiphany (which is the January 6th Christian celebration of
the three king’s visit to the baby Jesus), Befana flies around the world on a broomstick and
comes down the chimney to bring candy and gifts to good children. Does this sound familiar?
According the website, http://everybodylovesitalian.com/legend-la-befana/:
“The story is that la Befana was
approached by the Three Wise Men who asked her to lead them to the stable where
the baby Jesus lay in a manger. La Befana was too busy cleaning her house at
the time, so she declined the offer to go with them. Very soon she realized
that she had made a huge mistake, so she gathered up a bag full of gifts and
set off alone in search of the baby Jesus. Befana continues to travel the world
over to this day searching every house for the Christ child.”
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| PPG exhibit -train,tree, Santas |
So today I had some Godiva chocolate in
honor of the Italian legend because I
have been a good girl all year (wink). On the other hand, I gave my son only
a bite because he has not been so good.
Find your ethnic Santa story and celebrate it! (PPG exibit runs every year From Nov 27 until January 9th)
Find your ethnic Santa story and celebrate it! (PPG exibit runs every year From Nov 27 until January 9th)
Spiritual Reflection
Jesus was born in the town of Bethlehem in Judea, during the reign of
King Herod. About that time some wise men from the eastern lands arrived in
Jerusalem, asking, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We have seen his
star as it rose and we have come to worship him”(Mathew 2:1-2).
Other Sources
PPG Winter Garden Santa Around the World http://pittsburgh.about.com/od/holidays/p/santas.htm
Other Sources
PPG Winter Garden Santa Around the World http://pittsburgh.about.com/od/holidays/p/santas.htm
Everyone loves Italian http://everybodylovesitalian.com/legend-la-befana/,
http://everybodylovesitalian.com/