Befana the Fairy

The Journey Home

The Befana had finished her task of delivering gifts to the children, and she was returning home. As she walked over the rooftops, she did not place her feet on the roof tiles for fear of waking the sleeping children. Instead, she tiptoed on the shafts of moonlight that shone down from the night sky.

Lost Joy

Far from being happy and content after her duties, the Befana felt sad and very tired. She believed that the children no longer loved or cared for her as they had in the past. Once, long ago, her arrival in Italy was announced with the blowing of golden trumpets and the beating of drums. Children would hear her coming and hide their heads under the sheets, whispering, “Here she comes, our kindly Befana.” Despite their excitement, they would try to sleep before she delivered their presents. But these days, she thought sadly, there were no golden trumpets or drums to greet her, and if there had been, they would not have been heard above the noise of street traffic.

Unappreciated Gifts

Another thing that saddened Befana was how the children no longer delighted with her toys. They had become so spoiled that they did not appreciate the gifts she brought them. The Befana remembered a day many years ago when she had crafted the toys herself from wood with a wave of her magic wand. However, today’s children no longer value toys made from wood and magic.

A Cry in the Night

As she continued her journey home, silently walking on the moonbeams and gazing at the stars, the Befana suddenly stopped. What was that noise? It sounded like a child crying. She could hear it, even from the rooftops. “This won’t do,” said the good fairy. “I am going to see why this poor child is crying.” She turned back and retraced her steps across the rooftops.

A Discovering Heart

She stopped by a chimney pot and listened closely, then heard a sobbing voice say, “The good fairy Befana hasn’t brought me a toy; she has forgotten me again.” Upon hearing this, the Befana felt very ashamed. Quickly, she opened her large sack and searched the bottom for two toys. She drew them out: one was a toy soldier standing at attention, and the other was a toy horse with a lovely flowing mane. Both had been crafted from wood, with a wave of her magic wand.

The Joy of Giving

As the Befana popped the toys down the chimney, a cry of joy and happiness rose from the little voice below. Looking again into the bottom of her sack, she saw all the toys that the other children did not want. Very slowly, with trembling hands, the good fairy popped all the unwanted toys into the chimney. As the child’s laughter and cries of joy floated up the chimney, they drifted into the sky, transforming into bright, shining stars.

Rediscovering Happiness

By now, the Befana was very, very tired, so she began walking on the moonbeams again, back to her home. As she walked through the stars created by the laughter of the child, the good fairy gathered them into her sack and said to herself, “With these, I shall create the eyes of next year’s wooden dolls.” The Befana felt happy again.