Befana

See also: befana

Italian

Etymology

From Vulgar Latin or Late Latin *epiphanĭa for Latin epiphanīa, from Ancient Greek ἐπιφάνεια (epipháneia, “manifestation, striking appearance”). Doublet of Epifania.

Pronunciation
  • IPA(key): /beˈfa.na/
  • Rhymes: -ana
  • Hyphenation: Be‧fà‧na

Proper noun

la Befana f

  1. (folklore) a folkloric figure resembling an ugly but kind old witch who gives treats or presents to children in the night before Epiphany
  2. (colloquial) Epiphany (Christian feast)
    Synonym: Epifania
  3. Alternative letter-case form of befana

Derived terms

Further reading
  • Befana on Wikipedia.Wikipedia
  • Befana on the Italian Wikipedia.Wikipedia it
  • befana in Dizionario Italiano Olivetti, Olivetti Media Communication
  • befana in Treccani.it – Vocabolario Treccani on line, Istituto dell'Enciclopedia Italiana
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