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