The tradition of the Befana does not lose its charm: there are many Italians who will once again fill their stockings with sweets and gifts. According to a survey conducted by Swg for Confesercenti on 1,200 consumers, six out of ten Italians will honor tradition, with an average expenditure of 68 euros per person, for an overall turnover of almost 2 billion euros.
The tradition of the 'old woman' shows growing numbers compared to last year, when 57% of Italians put a gift under the hood for children. However, there are strong territorial differences: the tradition of the Befana is in fact much more felt in the areas of Central Italy (where two out of three will give a gift, 66%) and the South (65%), compared to the Northern regions, where the share stops at 52%. Even the average expenditure that the Italians dedicate to the sock, in line with that of last year (3 euros less), shows territorial differences: the Epiphany budget of families in Central Italy (estimated expenditure of 75 euros) is the richest , 2 euros more than that of the families of the South and 15 more than those of the North (60 euros).
To fill the stocking, Confesercenti points out, we are looking for sweets (or charcoal), indicated by 34% of the interviewees. And if the choice of sweets grows by one percentage point compared to last year, the toys option is reduced, given this year by 14% of Befane against 15% in 2019. According to another survey, carried out by Coldiretti-Ixè, the Befana stocking will be hung in almost half of the Italian homes (47%), while the Befana will bring other gifts to a minority of 13% and the rest will not celebrate also because they have no children.