The Krampus Kalendar: L is for LA BEFANA

In Italy Father Christmas has sub-contracted his gift-giving duties to a kindly old witch called La Befana, who gives children sweets if they’ve been good and a piece of coal if they haven’t.

According to the Italian legend of La Befana, the three wise men stopped at her home on their way to pay homage to the Christ child, and invited her to go with them. But La Befana had lost her own child to the plague and found the prospect of seeing another baby too upsetting. But after the wise men had left she changed her mind.

She set of in pursuit on her broomstick (as you do when you’re a witch) but never found the Magi again. Instead, every time she came across a good child’s stocking she filled it with toys and sweets in an effort to make amends for her foolishness.

You may encounter La Befana during the course of the adventure that is 'TWAS - The Krampus Night Before Christmas, and chances are she will also make an appearance in 'TWAS - The Roleplaying Game Before Christmas, which is currently 77% funded on Kickstarter.

   

To find out more about the festive season and its many traditions, order your copy of the Chrismologist's Christmas Explained: Robins, Kings and Brussel Sprouts today!

The book is also available in the United States as Christmas Miscellany: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Christmas.

      

Witches and Werewolves

Coming in 2011 are a couple of films that may be of interest to readers of this blog. Arriving in March is Red Riding Hood.

For my own take on the Werewolf myth, including the story of Little Red Riding Hood (and don't worry, there isn't a sparkly vampire in sight!), you should pick up Howl of the Werewolf, one of the most highly acclaimed Fighting Fantasy gamebooks ever written.

However, if witches are more your thing (along with crusading knights and Ron Perlman) then you should enjoy another couple of my FF gamebooks, Spellbreaker and Night of the Necromancer. Oh, and you should probably keep an eye out for The Season of the Witch as well (coming in January).