Friday, January 15

Befanini - Italian Epiphany Cookies



We enjoyed making some Befanini cookies yesterday afternoon.  They are Italian sugar cookies that are traditionally made for Epiphany.  We made stars and doves to remind us of the wisemen and Jesus' baptism.  We used this recipe and I love the hint of lemon!  They are perfect little cookies to go with a cup of tea.

And while we enjoyed some cookies after school we read The Legend of Old Befana by Tommie dePaola.  DePaola's book is a telling of  italian folk tale about an old woman who is invited to join the wisemen to find the Christ child.  Befana doesn't go and then decides she should, but by the time she made gifts and swept her home she can't find the wisemen or the child.  The Italian tradition says that she continues to travel looking for the child.  And every Epiphany she leaves gifts for all the children just in case one is the Christ child.  This story is perfect for Twelfth night.  But a week and a half into Epiphany is where it landed for us this year.  



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