There are many stories
about
La Bufana ,
always depicted as an
ugly old woman who flies
along on a broom draped
in black. The most
recognized version is
that she was outside
sweeping when the three
kings walked by, she
stopped them and asked
where they were going.
The kings responded that
they were following a
star, in search of a
newborn baby. They
invited her to come
along, but she declined,
saying she had too much
sweeping and cleaning to
do. When she found out
who it was the kings
were off to find, her
regret for not having
gone with them was so
great that she has spent
eternity rewarding good
children with presents
and sweets and bad
children with pieces of
coal on the day of
Epiphany, January 6.
Each year, from early
December until January
6, Piazza Navona
sets up the Bufana
toy fair , where
endless stalls tempt
children with every sort
of sticky, gooey sweets
and even chunks of black
sugar made to look like
coal. There are also toy
stands and several
manger scenes where
children sometimes leave
letters for La Bufana,
asking her for specific
presents and toys.
