Bella Parker is a lively high witch who is known for her fun-loving personality and vibrant energy. She stands out among her peers with her unique style and contagious enthusiasm. Bella is not one to shy away from expressing herself and is always the life of the party. Whether it's casting spells, brewing potions, or simply hanging out with friends, she brings an element of excitement and joy to everything she does. Bella's positive aura is magnetic, drawing people towards her and making her the center of attention wherever she goes. Her high energy and lively spirit make her a favorite among her witch friends, who can't help but be inspired by her zest for life.
For many people, and for children in particular, the moral alignment of a witch is clearly and invariably inscribed on her face. Old hags are evil, proffering poisoned apples or luring abandoned youngsters into deceptively delicious gingerbread houses. Good witches are bright, fairy-like creatures, with clear skin and resplendent gowns. The most famous good witch in popular culture, Glinda of Oz, tells a bewildered Dorothy that “Only bad witches are ugly”, thereby solidifying an aesthetic/moral binary that defined popular culture for much of the twentieth century.
The most famous good witch in popular culture, Glinda of Oz, tells a bewildered Dorothy that Only bad witches are ugly , thereby solidifying an aesthetic moral binary that defined popular culture for much of the twentieth century. Although accumulating a veritable cornucopia of origin myths and pre-Christian antecedents, La Befana is as much a feature of modern Italy as she is an emblem of its past.
Her high energy and lively spirit make her a favorite among her witch friends, who can't help but be inspired by her zest for life. Bella is constantly pushing boundaries and seeking out new adventures, never content with staying in one place for too long. Her curiosity and thirst for knowledge often lead her to discover new and exciting realms of magic that others haven't yet explored.
When Good Witches are Ugly: La Befana; or, the Italian Christmas Witch
For many people, and for children in particular, the moral alignment of a witch is clearly and invariably inscribed on her face. Old hags are evil, proffering poisoned apples or luring abandoned youngsters into deceptively delicious gingerbread houses. Good witches are bright, fairy-like creatures, with clear skin and resplendent gowns. The most famous good witch in popular culture, Glinda of Oz, tells a bewildered Dorothy that “Only bad witches are ugly”, thereby solidifying an aesthetic/moral binary that defined popular culture for much of the twentieth century.
In Italy, however, the good witch is a wizened hag. Her bent shoulders, broken shoes and tattered rags conceal a kind and generous heart. While the nation’s children may await the arrival of Santa Claus on Christmas Eve, two weeks later, on the Eve of the Epiphany (January 5 th ), they climb into bed dreaming of the treats they will receive from the beloved La Befana.
Traditional representation of La Befana
Traditionally depicted as an old woman, clad in ragged garments and sitting astride a broomstick, La Befana embodies the popular conception of the hideous crone; yet, her ugliness is not a signifier of evil. A truly benevolent figure, La Befana is adored by Italian children, and she is widely believed to bring sweets and small treasures to those who have been good. According to a popular Italian song,
The Befana comes by night
With her shoes all broken
With a dress in Roman style
Up, up with the Befana !!
(La Befana vien di notte
con le scarpe tutte rotte
col vestito alla “romana”
viva viva la Befana!!)
The name “Befana” is generally assumed to be a linguistic corruption of Epiphany (Epifania in Italian), the Christian festival that commemorates the arrival of the Magi, or Three Wise Men, at the infant Christ’s Bethlehem manger. On the night before the Epiphany, La Befana is believed to fly across the countryside on her broomstick. Entering homes through chimneys or keyholes, the kind old witch brings sweets to good children and coal to bad ones. Many parents, keen to keep up the illusion of La Befana’s annual visits, will not only leave treats for their children, but will even try to trick them by including some fragments “coal”, which is generally made from sugar, in their Christmas stockings.
Sugar “coal” – it’s veeeeeeeeery sweet
In most representations, La Befana is hunchbacked and red-nosed. While she is most popularly depicted riding a broomstick, she can occasionally be seen on a donkey. Presumably, this is an iconographic connection to the Holy Family, who themselves travelled to Bethlehem on a donkey.
Despite these Catholic trappings, La Befana is a truly dynamic example of cultural and religious syncretism. The name “Befana” finds its first literary articulation in a 1549 poem by Agnolo Firenzuola. During the Middle Ages and the early modern period, she was the subject of a popular legend that saw her interact directly with Biblical figures. In one version of the story, the Three Wise Men, following the star to Bethlem, pause to ask directions to the Christ Child’s manger. The old woman provides the Magi with guidance but declines their invitation to join them on their journey, being too busy sweeping her house; she is, after all, a diligent housekeeper. Later, she regrets her decision and sets off alone in to find the Baby Jesus, searching for him to this day. In other permutations of the tale La Befana is an older woman whose son has died. She donates her deceased child’s belongings to the infant Jesus. She is rewarded for kindness by being empowered to act as a kind of “witchy godmother” to all of the children in Italy.
Befana and stocking I received this year
Like many folkloric traditions, however, La Befana is generally understood to have her origins in pre-Christian beliefs and practices. Her origins are, therefore, rather tangled, interwoven with a wide range of obscure rites and mythologies. One potential origin for La Befana frames the old witch as intimately connected to the Roman pagan festival, Saturnalia. A two-week long winter celebration, Saturnalia honoured the fertility God, and often end with Romans travelling to the Temple of Juno on the Capitoline Hill where an elderly woman would consult with the gods and interpret their will. Carlo Ginzburg, one of Italy’s pre-eminent witchcraft scholars, claimed that La Befana was a manifestation of an Alpine goddess Perchta (the Bright One). A pagan deity known by a thousand different names, Perchta traditionally took two forms: a beautiful woman with skin as white as snow, or more commonly, a withered hag. The beloved Christmas witch also displays numerous parallels with a Roman goddess called Strenua, who was believed was believed to represent the new year and its attendant promise of purification. She has also been connected to an obscure rite practised by the Celtic peoples who inhabited Pianura Padana and parts of the Alps, which entitled the immolation of wicker puppets in honour of the gods. La Befana has also been associated with a practice, widespread in many European countries, of burning a puppet decorated like an old woman to symbolise the death of the old year and the beginning of the new one. Alongside her multitudinous and often obscure connections to Italy’s pagan past, La Befana also possess a number of international equivalents. In particular, we find a mirror image of La Befana in the Russian story of Babushka, an old woman who also refuses the Wise Men’s offer to travel with them.
Although accumulating a veritable cornucopia of origin myths and pre-Christian antecedents, La Befana is as much a feature of modern Italy as she is an emblem of its past. The festive hag is widely adored by small children, and every year parents fill stockings with sweets (caramelle), chocolates and sugar “coal” to convince their little ones that La Befana has paid them a visit. Although, it’s interesting to note that, as Stefano Zocchi points out in an article for Folklore Thursday, the introduction of the Christmas stocking is a fairly recent innovation in Italy and most likely seems to be an American import. In the days before January 6 th , shops windows across Italy are decorated with effigies of pointy-nosed, wrinkled hags. For the unsuspecting tourist, it’s almost like stumbling across a second Halloween nestled amidst the dark days of January and waiting to brighten the tedium of the long post-Christmas nights.
"I became interested in carving when I was a child and wondered how a wooden elephant was made."
Bella's determination and fearlessness make her the perfect role model for aspiring young witches, showing them that being unique and embracing one's individuality is the key to a fulfilling and magical life. She encourages others to step out of their comfort zones and embrace their passions, reminding them that magic exists within each and every one of us. Bella's vibrant spirit is an inspiration to all who encounter her, proving that being a witch is not just about casting spells and performing rituals, but about living life to the fullest and embracing its magical possibilities..
Reviews for "Exploring the Magic Within: The Vibrant Life of Bella Parker, High Witch"
1. John Doe - 1/5 - I was extremely disappointed with "Lively High Bella Parker Witch". The plot was convoluted and poorly developed, leaving me feeling confused and uninterested throughout. The characters lacked depth and were difficult to connect with, making it hard to invest in their struggles. Additionally, the writing style was choppy and inconsistent, with awkward dialogue and repetitive descriptions. Overall, I found this book to be a complete letdown and cannot recommend it to others.
2. Jane Smith - 2/5 - I had high hopes for "Lively High Bella Parker Witch", but unfortunately, it fell flat. The story started off promisingly, but it quickly lost its momentum and became tedious to read. The pacing was off, with long stretches of unnecessary descriptions and minimal action. The world-building felt incomplete, leaving several gaps and unanswered questions. The main character, Bella Parker, lacked the compelling qualities needed to carry the narrative, making it difficult to stay engaged. While the book had potential, it ultimately fell short of delivering an enjoyable reading experience.
3. Sarah Johnson - 2/5 - I struggled to get through "Lively High Bella Parker Witch". The writing style was uninspiring, lacking the descriptive language that brings a story to life. The dialogue felt forced and unnatural, making it hard to connect with the characters and their experiences. The plot meandered without clear direction, leaving me unsure of what was happening and why. Overall, this book failed to captivate my attention or leave a lasting impression. I would not recommend it to those looking for an engaging and well-crafted story.