Should I let my son believe in the Christmas witch?

[hreed]

My son has been learning about La Befana, the Italian Christmas witch who brings goodies to all of Italy’s children, in his Italian class at a Catholic school. I have downloaded information regarding this legend and I am quite distressed that my son now believes that there are “good” witches. I have trawled through different sites but I really require some guidance and Catholic knowledge on how I should handle this situation both at home and at the school. I don’t believe that it should have been taught in any way and I would like to gently inform the teacher of why what is seen as harmless lessons are fraught with danger. I really need a strong Catholic site with relevant information regarding this as I am aware of other parents with similiar concerns. Thank you for your time and effort.

 

[Michelle_Arnold]

With all due sympathy, I think it is very possible that you have misjudged the story of La Befana. It is a lovely Italian legend about an elderly woman who missed an opportunity to visit the Christ child; so she searches the world endlessly for him and, en route, leaves treats for good children who represent the Christ child to her. It is possible that the story of La Befana is a Christianization of indigenous myths, which would explain why in some versions of the tale La Befana is presented as a witch – much like the story of St. Nicholas incorporated European myths and St. Nicholas is often portrayed to children as “a right jolly old elf.”

To your son, you need only explain that the story of La Befana is to Italian children what the story of Santa Claus is to American children. If you celebrate Epiphany (on which La Befana distributes her goodies), you’re free to incorporate her story into the celebration. If not, or if you’d rather not include La Befana at Epiphany, you need merely tell your son that the story belongs to Italian children and we have our own customs to celebrate at Christmas. As for the school, you might suggest to the teacher that La Befana be presented to the children as an elderly woman who loves the Christ child so much that she sees him in all the world’s children (a powerful pro-life message, by the way), rather than a “good witch” (which could cause confusion for children and consternation for their parents).