Broadway Legend Joined: 12/28/04
I got a text from my sister yesterday, Brd. She was boarding a plane in Charleston, SC, bound for Chicago. She was leaving 68 degrees and heading for 2 degrees. I don't think I would have gotten on that plane!
Updated On: 1/7/15 at 11:26 AM
Broadway Legend Joined: 1/14/05
That is funny! Do they have a house in Hilton Head?
I really do not mind this cold for a few days. I did get the car door open and my cars have not had starting problems. C21 picked up a few hours babysitting today as the local grammar school is closed. She is there "go to" even though she is away. She might nanny for the summer for two families.
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/28/04
No, they just spent a few days in HH.
C21 must have a boatload of patience!
BTW Bafana did not leave me any gifts
In Italian folklore, Befana is an old woman who delivers gifts to children throughout Italy on Epiphany Eve (the night of January 5) in a similar way to St Nicholas or Santa Claus. But children get gifts from both Father Christmas and Befana.
A popular belief is that her name derives from the Feast of Epiphany or in Italian, "La Festa dell'Epifania". Epiphania (Epiphany in English) is a Latin word with Greek origins. Epiphany means either the Feast of the Epiphany (January 6) or “manifestation (of the divinity).
Some suggest that Befana is descended from the Sabine/Roman goddess named Strina.
In popular folklore Befana visits all the children of Italy on the eve of the Feast of the Epiphany to fill their stockings with candy and presents if they are good. Or a lump of coal or dark candy if they are bad. In many poorer parts of Italy and in particular rural Sicily, a stick in a stocking was placed instead of coal. Being a good housekeeper, many say she will sweep the floor before she leaves. To some the sweeping meant the sweeping away of the problems of the year. The child's family typically leaves a small glass of wine and a plate with a few morsels of food, often regional or local, for the Befana.
She is usually portrayed as an old lady riding a broomstick through the air wearing a black shawl and is covered in soot because she enters the children's houses through the chimney. She is often smiling and carries a bag or hamper filled with candy, gifts, or both.
Christian legend had it that Befana was approached by the biblical magi, also known as the Three Wise Men (or the three kings) a few days before the birth of the Infant Jesus. They asked for directions to where the Son of God was, as they had seen his star in the sky, but she did not know. She provided them with shelter for a night, as she was considered the best housekeeper in the village, with the most pleasant home. The magi invited her to join them on the journey to find the baby Jesus, but she declined, stating she was too busy with her housework. Later, La Befana had a change of heart, and tried to search out the astrologers and Jesus. That night she was not able to find them, so to this day, La Befana is searching for the little baby. She leaves all the good children toys and candy (“caramelle”) or fruit, while the bad children get coal (“carbone”), onions or garlic.
Damn I didn't even get onions or garlic which I use in most of my dishes
Even though my godmother is off the boat Sicilian and I have Italian cousins, I had never heard of Befana until yesterday when my friend Nick went nuts on Facebook about the 12 days of Christmas and mentioned her. No gifts for me either!
Hey! I got more gifts in the mail yesterday!! I forgot it was Three Kings Day!!
Our fingerprints don't fade from the lives we touch.
Puppies are babies in fur coats.
Tinfoil...The Terrorizing Terminator
Broadway Legend Joined: 1/14/05
Our families are so celctic based, no weird traditions other than drunkedness!
Grandma made sure we knew of La Bafana. She also believed in giving us our gifts on Jan.6th being that's when the Kings gave their gifts to baby Jesus.
I remember this exchange between my mother and me when I was about 6, and she was trying to explain "Little Christmas" to me:
MOM: January 6th. It's the day the three Kings gave their gifts to the baby Jesus.
ME: Oh. What's it called again?
MOM: Little Christmas.
ME: So it's ANOTHER CHRISTMAS!!?! More PRESENTS!?!
MOM: No, no, no. It's Little Christmas. No presents.
ME: Why not make them little presents?
MOM(Stifling her laughter): Shut up. Your birthday's next week.
Mine sorta went like this...picture it, Christmas day 1965
ME: Grandma, where's my Christmas gift?
GM: You'll get it next month.
ME: But today is Christmas.
GM: January 6th is the day the 3 wise men gave Gesu his gifts and La Befana delivers them to all the good boys and girls in Italy on that day. That's when you'll get yours.
ME: But we don't live in Italy, so I want it now.
GM: *reaches for her shoe* Oh you're going to get it now if you keep this up.
So I patiently waited until La Befana delivered my gift on Jan. 6th every year from Grandma.
Patiently?
I was actually very docile as a child. I'm making up for it now
It was 8 degrees when I left home...6 when I got to work. I didn't even look at the "real feel". At that point, does it matter? Winter's here, folks!
Our fingerprints don't fade from the lives we touch.
Puppies are babies in fur coats.
Tinfoil...The Terrorizing Terminator
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/28/04
It's a balmy 9 degrees here. Luckily, the wind finally stopped. We are one of onky two counties in the area to open on time today. Our students are ticked.
Morning peeps! Didn't matter how cold it is today I still walked from the PA. I'm wearing my Fitbit...so far today I took 3,640 steps or 1.57 miles.
M... m... m... mornin'...
I need a space heater. I'm freezing at my desk.
Our fingerprints don't fade from the lives we touch.
Puppies are babies in fur coats.
Tinfoil...The Terrorizing Terminator
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/28/04
We just told the students they could wear anything they needed to keep warm - coats, sweatshirts, sweatpants, etc. You would have thought we told them they won the lottery.
Moony, I feel the same way when we can wear jeans on Friday.
We had jeans days for the last two weeks of the year - loved it! We do have jeans on Friday.
Happy Thursday Adults!
Broadway Legend Joined: 1/14/05
I am in jeans and GAP indigo shirt! -8 when I dropped Mrs. Brd at the train at 6:15. C16 is off again but back tomorrow.
Happy brrrrrrrr Day!
brd, early Spring?
Broadway Legend Joined: 1/14/05
I hope so! We had such a brutal winter last year that these last few days are no big deal!
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/8/04
Hello everyone in the Adult thread. I have some wonderful news to share, my sister in law gave birth this morning to a beautiful baby girl. She's tiny but both mom and baby are doing well.
Hi BGG - that's such wonderful news! I love that you remembered to come here and share it with us!
Sending love to you and your family! I'm sure this happy news has been a great lift to all your hearts!
Happy New Year. xoxo
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