The most important moment of the Christmas holidays in Barga is linked to the tradition of the Befana that in the municipality is celebrated with particular dedication. The start of the festivities in the afternoon of the eve when, directly from her official residence on the mountains of Pegnana, the Befana will descend to Barga to meet (from 14.30) the children and take a tour of the town with them.
The traditional Epiphany party for children starts at 2:30pm on January 5th. The Befana will arrive from Pegnana in Piazza Pascoli and, accompanied by her Befanotti, will tour the town with the children singing begging songs and throwing candy. From the Garden, she will then enter Via di Mezzo and finally arrive in Piazza Salvi, where she will stop for a final moment to meet each child individually for a small gift. Here, the Befana will offer a kind word to all the children who wish to meet her.
From 2:00 PM in Barga, the FOURTH EDITION OF THE BEST HOME-MADE EPIPHANY CONTEST IN BARGA will also take place. This competition is dedicated to the traditional cookie baked in homes, especially on the occasion of the Epiphany. The competition, sponsored by the Municipal Administration in collaboration with our newspaper, the Youth Council, and the local businesses, is for homemade Befana, the kind traditionally made in Barga homes.
Piazza Salvi will be even more at the centre of the celebrations starting at 5:00 PM with the first APERITIF WITH THE BEFANA, thanks to the support of the Youth Council and the square's local venues. In essence, starting after 5:30 PM, the square awaits you for a party that will continue with non-stop music and will provide a backdrop for the parade of masked groups through the streets of the Castle. Meanwhile, from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM, the Befane and the masked groups from around Barga will also be waiting in Piazza del Comune. After dinner, they will bring gifts to children's homes or will be out singing begging songs.
From 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM, the BEFANE FESTIVAL returns. Participants are invited to show up in the square during this time to be evaluated by a jury and compete for the prizes up for grabs. The winners will be announced at 8:00 PM. The following will be awarded: the "Alfreda Rossi Verzani" prize, which will go to the best costumed group. The best "Befanotto" will receive the prize dedicated to Evelina Chiesa, Doli Marchetti, and Silvana Moscardini, Barga's historic Befana par excellence. There will also be the prize for the most beautiful Befana, dedicated to the memory of the most traditional Befana of all time in Barga, Mario "Tiglio" Pieroni. Finally, the "Roberta Rinaldi and Giorgio Di Dio" prize will go to the best singers.
THE BEFANA WILL MEET EVERYONE ON JANUARY 6TH AT THE CASINA DI PEGNANA (from 2 PM onwards), for a final farewell to the charming old lady, thanks to a delightful afternoon organized by the Befana Association. Children will be able to bid farewell to the old lady of the mountain and thank her for any gifts she has brought them.