La Befana

According to Italian legend, every year on the night

of 5th January, a cranky old lady delivers gifts and
treats to children throughout Italy.

Her name is La Befana. She wears an old shawl and

shabby clothes. La Befana travels on her magic
broom and enters childrens’ houses through the
chimney. That’s why children hang up stockings to
receive gifts from this good old witch. La Befana usually fills stockings of those
children who were good during the year with fruits, books, candy and toys. And
bad children? Well, they get a lump of a coal.

Some families also leave a small glass of wine and a plate with food for La Befana.
Being a good housekeeper, La Befana always sweeps the house before she
leaves.

Answer the questions:

1. Who is La Befana and where is she from?

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2. How does La Befana enters childrens’ houses?

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3. Why do children hang up stockings?

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4. What gifts good children receive?

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5. And bad?

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6. What is a good housekeeper?

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iSLCollective.com
Useful vocabulary:

a legend to deliver gifts

a treat shabby clothes

a chimney to hang up

a stocking a lump of a coal

to sweep a housekeeper

Fill in the right preposition:

up – to – through – of – on

____ night of 5th January, enters _________ chimney, according ___ legend, a
lump ___ a coal, hang ___ stockings, delivers gifts ___ children.

True or false:

1. La Befana lives in France.

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2. She comes on January 5th

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3. La Befana wears fashion clothes.

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4. She enters the house through the door.

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5. Bad children receive nice gifts.

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6. La Befana is a good housekeeper.

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What gift you want to receive from La Befana next year and why?

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iSLCollective.com