Today we interrupt the regularly scheduled Food on Fridays series to bring you a timely post: Flames for a Friday.
The flame wasn’t because it was a Friday, though. Rather, today is January 6th, which is the Epiphany holiday. It’s the end of the Christmas holiday season here in Verona, and it’s marked by a very particular event.
Now, before I get to that, I should first mention that in Italy, the (good) witch Befana roams around on the evening of January 5th, trying to catch up with the wise men on their way to see the Christ child. She brings toys to the kids as she roams around — like I said, she’s a good witch.
But in addition to that part of the legend, she’s also the symbol of the year that’s just ended. Which is unfortunate for her, since in order to wipe the slate clean of all the bad stuff from the old year, and to insure good luck in the new year, there is a tradition in some parts of Italy —including Verona — to burn a towering effigy of Befana to ring — er burn — in the new year.
Befana Effigy before the blaze
Befana Effigy – head detail
Befana Effigy – hand detail
In Verona this takes place in Piazza Bra, near the Stella Cometa, the Christmas star that marks the spot of the manger with the Chris child. That is, of course, where the wise men were headed, arriving on January 6th. According to the legend, Befana never actually finds that spot. But in modern times, at least here in Verona, she does at least see it, since the effigy of Befana is set up just opposite the Stella, in front of city hall. You can see the relative positioning of the Stella and the city hall in photos in the Holiday on Ice post.)
Now, during the past couple of weeks the weather has been unseasonably warm – until yesterday the lows were in the upper 40°s F/~5° C. However, just in time for gathering out in Piazza Bra today to watch the festivities, the weather turned colder, and it was below freezing. A bit cool for standing around waiting for Befana to burn. But since we’ve never been in Verona for this event before, Chris and I braved the cold and froze our tootsies so I could get a few photos of this interesting, and very different, holiday celebration.
Of course, once the fire got going, it was very, very, very warm to be standing nearby. 
Anyway, I’ve posted a little gallery of photos below to show the progression of the bonfire. Before you look at the photos, be sure to click on the following link to play the the theme from Rocky in the background. That’s what was playing on the loudspeaker as the fire burned. Seriously.
Don’t ask why – just play the music, and enjoy this glimpse of the 2017 Befana Bonfire in Verona.