Regatta of Befana

 The Feast of the Epiphany is celebrated on January 6, it represents the end of the holiday season, and the last day of  Christmas holidays before the restart of the school in Venice.

Also in this city, during the night between 5th and 6th January  is tradition to hang stockings out the window or on the fireplace, waiting for the old witch riding her mop to fill it with sweets for good children and coal for bad children .

Epiphany is a national holiday and various events are going on, such fairs, festivals, concerts, , fireworks, exhibitions and markets, or the traditional concert which takes place in different municipalities. But several are also the Epiphany party or the election of Miss modern witch.

The best way to celebrate the Epiphany in Venice is a rowing regatta race,
On Jan. 6, 50 athletes, members of the oldest rowing club of Venice the “ Bucintoro”  disguised as old witches, race from S. Tomà to the Rialto Bridge.
The finish line consist on an enormous sock hanging down from  Rialto Bridge.
The Befana is one of the most popular traditions in the collective imagination of the Italians. Its legend dates back to pre-Christian traditions.

 Today, in popular Christian culture, the Befana brings gifts in memory of those offered by the Magi to the Christ Child. This charming old lady in the night between 5 and 6 January, flies on a broom carrying a bag stuffed with toys and candy. Then, sliding down the chimneys of the houses, fills stockings left hanging by the children.