EPIPHANY WITCH BALLAD SHEET

[Befana] Canzonetta nuova sopra la befana. [Rome?] Con permessn[sic.] [c.1800].

Ballad sheet with a song celebrating the Befana, the witch who arrives on the feast of Epiphany (6 January). The song describes how she rewards good children with good things, and bad ones, who haven’t studied, with a stick made of ash and coal. The song also describes her physical appearance, and the sweetmeats and tasty accessories she carries around her. These include ravioli, and boxes of chocolate. Mentioned is her arrival in Rome, a centre for Befana celebrations where the ballad sheet may have been printed.

The sheet was folded in four, and a note written on one of the blank outward-facing sides. It is addressed to “Signora Settimia”, who is described as “not an Epiphany witch but a big Epiphany witch”. Settimia is requested to bring the writer some cotton yarn.

Details

One sheet, 19.3 cms. x 14.3 cms., printed to recto. Printed title, two columns of text (eleven four-line verses with one line in-between each for chorus). Printed dividing line between the columns. Browning, small tears at blank edges. Folded in four. Inscription to one quarter of blank verso: “Per la Sig.ra Settimia Non Befana ma Befanona. Mandatemi un [???] di cottone torto”.

OCLC 552292888 (Landesbibliothek Oldenburg). No listing in the Italian union catalogue SBN.