Title: La befana vien di notte
General Information about Item:
- Verbal lore
- Language: Italian
- Country of Origin: Italy
- Informant: Jack Dwortz
- Date Collected: 5/12/2020
Informant Data:
- Jack Dwortz was born on May 15, 2000. He was born in Illinois but was raised and currently lives in Boston. He has an older sister and a younger brother, and his family has lived in New England for generations. Jack has not yet declared a major but has interests in languages. Between the end of high school and starting college, Jack traveled to Italy and Spain and is fluent in both Italian and Spanish. He also has learned French and German since his gap year. Jack is a current Dartmouth student in the class of 2023.
Contextual Data:
- Social Context: While he was in Italy, Jack learned this nursery rhyme from his host family around Christmas time. Gathered around the dinner table, the family introduced and explained the rhyme to Jack. He fondly recounted this memory to me, as if he was once again reveling in the same happy moments of the holiday season.
- Cultural Context: This nursery rhyme is well-known and prevalent throughout Italy and is either said to or by children. It is generally told during Christmas and describes la befana, who is a witch who delivers candies or gifts to children on January 5th, the Eve of Epiphany. Although the first two lines are always the same, the last two lines can differ, depending on the region in which one lives. Despite the variations, the nursery rhyme is recognizable by all as “La befana vien di notte”.
Item:
Audio file:
Original Text:
La befana vien di notte,
Con le scarpe tutte rotte,
Col vestito alla romana.
Viva viva la befana
Alternate last 2 lines:
Colla scopa di saggina
Viva viva la nonnina
Word-for-word translation:
The Befana comes of night
With the shoes all broken
With the dress to the roman
Live live the befana.
Alternate last 2 lines:
With the broom of sage
Live live the little grandma.
Free translation:
The Befana comes at night
In tattered shoes
Dressed in Roman style
Long live the Befana!
Alternate last 2 lines:
On her sage broomstick
Long live the little granny.
Informant’s Comments:
- To Jack, “La befana vien di notte” represents the anticipation and excitement of the witch bearing treats for the good children and a stick or coal for the bad children. The distinction between the stick and coal corresponds to poorer or richer regions in Italy, respectively. Jack likened the concept to the American concept of Santa Claus, a connection which allowed him to better understand Italian culture.
Collector’s Comments:
- Similar to some other nursery rhymes, “La befana vien di notte” contains elements that are used to frighten children. Not only does this introduce a force that encourages good behavior but it also instills a sense of cultural identity in children. Passing on nursery rhymes from a young age can help to consolidate these memories and ensure that it is passed to future generations.
Collector’s Name: Jasmine Li
Tags/Keywords:
- Language
- Nursery rhyme
- Entertainment
- Verbal lore