In parts of Italy, it is at Epiphany, not on Christmas Day, that
children get their presents — delivered by a witch called Befana
by broomstick last night. Befana is a much magled form of
Epifania — the Italian form of Epiphany — and she almost
certainly evolved from the Pagan Goddess Strenia, who presided
over the presents given at the New Year. (It also gives us
Tiffany). Meanwhile, in the Orthodox Church, today is Christmas…
In Britain and America, however, Epiphany — which also happens
to be the twelfth day of Christmas, that is to say “Twelfth
Night” — is often entirely neglected now, though once, when the
twelve days were kept with full festivity, it was a big event —
so big, it even got a Shakespearian play named after it. The
fabled “Twelve Days of Christmas” have their roots in the Norse
Jól, and were originally kept between December 20th and the
31st. They also have very prosiac origins; at this darkest time
of the year, with the harvest gathered in, animals slaughtered,
and crops requiring sowing i