Befanata - Italian Epiphany

La Befana vien di notte… Italian Epiphany

Programme of the day

16:00 children workshop
with Gaia Zaccagni, Nikoletta Verykiou & Elena Pavlidou
preparations for Befana’s arrival

18:00 stories and cooking
storytelling and Befana’s arrival

20:00 italian carols and traditional songs
with Argyris Mbakirtzis & Kostas Vomvolos

The night between 5 and 6 January, every Italian home follows the ritual of the empty socks. Children hang their socks to be filled with presents by Befana. On the stove, wherever there is no fireplace, they put some soup for the old lady, who will arrive tired from her long journey. Then, the children have to sleep early with the promise not to wake up and spy on Befana’s arrival otherwise they will get no presents.

Children workshop (16:00-19:00)

The preparations for Befana start when the children write their letters to Befana. Children need to ask small things, virtues or talents and in any case something useful to them. Through drama games, paintings, cooking and crafts the children follow the italian customs for Befana, until the soup and sweets are cooked. After 18:00, the children go to bed, listening to tales about the Befana and other italian lullabies, reminding them that Befana goes only to homes where children are asleep.
The workshop will be bilingual (in Greek and Italian).
Participation: 10 euro

Befana will arrive at praktoreio at 19:00.

Befanata drammatica di Montepulciano (19:30)
A 19th century one-act performed by eidekanou theatre people.

At 20:00, Argyris Mbakirtzis and Kostas Vomvolos perform Italian carols and traditional songs.

Wine and soup (passatelli) will be offered.

After 19:00 free entrance (suggested donation 10 euro).

Information: 97714054, 99363589 [email protected]

with the kind support of

Società Dante Alighieri-Comitato di Cipro
Ambasciata Italiana a Cipro
Enoteca Italiana
University of Cyprus- Cultural Center
under the auspices of the Embassy of Italy in Cyprus