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

2. (folklore) a folkloric figure resembling an ugly but kind old witch who gives treats or presents to children in the night before Epiphany
4. (colloquial) Epiphany (Christian feast)

   Synonym: Epifania

5. Alternative letter-case form of befana

Derived terms

• befana
• befanata

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