Practical rituals, folk magic, and cozy Epiphany customs for insight, cleansing, and good fortune

In Italian folklore, La Befana is the old woman who rides her broom through the winter sky on the night of January 5, visiting homes as the Feast of the Epiphany dawns.

She’s often described as a witch, but not in the fairy-tale villain sense.

La Befana is a threshold figure. She’s a cleaner-upper, a truth-teller, a keeper of endings that make space for new beginnings.

According to the most familiar legend, the Magi asked La Befana for directions on their way to Bethlehem.

Busy with her housework, she declined to join them. But she later regretted it and set out on her broom, gifts in hand, searching for the holy child.

She never found him, but she kept going, leaving sweets (and sometimes coal) for children along the way.

Read more: Who Is La Befana? The Italian Epiphany Witch Who Brings Gifts on January 5

Today, La Befana’s story may resonate because January itself is liminal.

The sparkle of the holidays has faded, the year is brand-new but untested, and many of us feel both hope and heaviness.

La Befana doesn’t demand grand resolutions. She asks for honest housekeeping…of the home, the heart, and the year ahead.

What follows are five fast, fun, practical ways to welcome La Befana into your space (no belief system required).

Think of them as folk-inspired gestures. They’re symbolic, grounding, and quietly powerful.

1. Sweep the Threshold (But Don’t Rush It)

So, La Befana is famous for her broom, and sweeping is one of the oldest symbolic acts of transition found across cultures.

In folk tradition, sweeping the threshold doesn’t just remove dirt. It may also help clear stagnant energy, lingering stories, and emotional residue from the year that just ended.

How to do it

• On January 5 or 6, lightly sweep:
  • Your front entry
  • Doorways between rooms
  • The kitchen floor (a traditional hearth space)
• Sweep toward the door, imagining old patterns leaving the home.
• Dispose of the dust outside if possible.

Optional folk touches

• Add a pinch of salt or dried rosemary to the dustpan before discarding.
• If you don’t have time to physically sweep, mimic the motion with your hand or a small broom and set the intention consciously.

Why it may work (symbolically)

Anthropologists note that sweeping rituals often appear at seasonal or calendrical boundaries, functioning as a reset of social and spiritual order (Douglas, 1966).

La Befana’s broom isn’t about perfection. It’s about readiness.

2. Leave a Small Offering (Simple Is Best)

In Italy, children traditionally leave out wine or food for La Befana.

You don’t need to recreate a whole scene. Just acknowledge the exchange.

What to offer

Choose one small item and place it on a windowsill, counter, or hearth area. For example, you might use:

• A piece of bread or biscotti
• A small glass of of wine, juice, or tea
• A bit of honey or dried fruit
• A handwritten note of thanks for lessons learned

What this symbolizes

Offerings mark relationship, not reward. In folk practice, the act of making an offering says: I recognize the unseen helpers of this season, and my own inner wisdom.

Morning-after ritual

The next morning:

• Return the food to nature or compost it.
• Drink the tea or wine mindfully, reflecting on what the past year taught you.

3. Write What You’re Done Carrying (Then Let It Go)

La Befana is an end-of-season figure. She arrives after the holidays but before the new year truly “begins.” This makes her an ideal ally for release without drama.

The ritual

• On a scrap of paper, write one or more of these:
  • One habit you’re done feeding
  • One story about yourself that no longer fits
  • One emotional weight you’re ready to set down
• Fold the paper and place it under a small bowl or stone overnight (January 5).
• On January 6, tear it up and discard it, or safely burn it outside.

Why it may work

Psychological research suggests that symbolic acts of release can meaningfully reinforce cognitive closure (Pennebaker & Chung, 2011).

La Befana’s timing supports this. She closes the old cycle gently, without forcing optimism.

4. Light a Candle for the Road Ahead

La Befana is associated with wandering, searching, and starlight.

A single candle may become a way to honor imperfect journeys. These are the paths we take even when we don’t know exactly where they lead.

How to do it

• Light one candle at dusk on January 5 or the morning of January 6.
• Say something akin to (out loud or silently): “May what seeks me find me. And may I recognize it when it arrives.”
• Sit with the flame for a few minutes. No visualization required.

Practical tip

If candles aren’t possible, a string of lights or a lamp works just as well. The symbolism matters more than the tool.

Cultural context

Light rituals during Epiphany echo older solar traditions tied to midwinter and the gradual return of daylight (Hutton, 1996).

La Befana carries this torch forward, not as triumph, but as quiet guidance.

5. Sweeten the Year (Without Denying the Bitter)

La Befana famously leaves both candy and coal.

This duality is essential. January magic isn’t about pretending everything will be sweet. It’s about making room for sweetness alongside everything else.

A simple practice

• Place a small bowl on kitchen table with:
  • Something sweet (chocolate, dates, sugar)
  • Something dark or plain (coffee beans, charcoal sketch stick, black stone)
• Let it sit through January 6.
• When you clear it away, choose one word for the year ahead that honors both effort and reward. For example, you might pick steadfast, honest, becoming, etc.

Why this matters

Folk figures like La Befana teach partly through balance, not bypassing.

Scholars note that gift-bringers who deliver both reward and consequence reflect communal values of accountability and care (Dundes, 1984).

Making It Your Own (Because La Befana Isn’t Formal)

You don’t need Italian ancestry, elaborate supplies, or perfect timing to work with this tradition.

La Befana belongs to kitchens and thresholds everywhere, and also to tired hearts and people who keep going anyway.

Choose one of these practices, or combine them lightly. The spirit of La Befana favors sincerity over spectacle.

Why These Small Rituals May Feel So Good in January

January often comes with pressure. Think new goals, fresh starts, instant transformation.

La Befana offers a different model.

She arrives late, cleans up gently, and reminds us that wisdom often comes after we stop rushing.

By welcoming her into your home, you’re not summoning anything mystical. You’re practicing:

• Seasonal awareness
• Emotional closure
• Intentional simplicity
• Respect for cycles of effort and rest

And sometimes, that’s the most practical magic of all.

References

• Douglas, M. (1966). Purity and Danger: An Analysis of Concepts of Pollution and Taboo. Routledge.
• Dundes, A. (1984). Interpreting Folklore. Indiana University Press.
• Hutton, R. (1996). The Stations of the Sun: A History of the Ritual Year in Britain. Oxford University Press.
• MacDonald, M. (2010). Folklore of World Holidays. Gale.
• Pennebaker, J. W., & Chung, C. K. (2011). Expressive Writing: Connections to Physical and Mental Health. Oxford Handbook of Health Psychology.

Disclaimer
This article is for educational and cultural exploration purposes only. The practices described are symbolic folk-inspired rituals, not religious prescriptions, medical advice, or guarantees of outcome. Readers are encouraged to adapt traditions thoughtfully and respectfully, honoring both historical context and personal well-being.