On a cold

Notes

On a cold winter night in ancient Bethlehem, three travelers stopped at the cottage of an old woman. Their robes shimmered with dust from distant lands, and the gifts they carried glowed faintly in the firelight. They were the Three Wise Men, following a star that burned brighter than any other in the sky. The old woman—La Befana, known in her village for her tidy home and constant sweeping—welcomed them inside. They told her of a newborn child, a holy infant destined to change the world, and asked her to join them on their journey. La Befana hesitated. Her broom leaned against the hearth. Her floors still needed sweeping. Her chores, she thought, could not wait. So she declined. But after the Wise Men departed, the cottage felt strangely empty. The star outside seemed to tug at her heart. Regret washed over her—what if she had missed her only chance to see the miraculous child? Gathering sweets and small handmade toys, she hurried into the night, hoping to catch up. Yet the Wise Men had taken another road, and she never found them. Since that night, La Befana has wandered the world each Epiphany Eve, searching for the child she never met. And in every home she visits, she le...