Hopping to America: A Rabbit's Tale of LaBefana

Diana Pishner Walker Illustrated by Ashley Teets

Hopping To America: A Rabbit’s Tale of La Befana

by Diana Pishner Walker illustrated by Ashley Teets copyright ©2017 Diana Pishner Walker All rights reserved. This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents, except where noted otherwise, are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any other resemblance to actual people, places or events is entirely coincidental. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any other form or for any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording or any information storage system, without written permission from Headline Books.

To order additional copies of this book or for book publishing information, or to contact the author: Headline Kids P. O. Box 52 Terra Alta, WV 26764 Tel: 304-789-3001 Email: mybook@headlinebooks.com www.headlinebooks.com Published by Headline Books Headline Kids is an imprint of Headline Books ISBN-13: 9781946664112 Library of Congress Control Number: 2017944838

PR I N T E D I N T H E U N I T E D STAT E S OF A M E R IC A

This book is dedicated to my grandsons, Ashton and Austin Walker, who make every Christmas a blessing to our family and keep the spirit of hope alive all year long. *** My family has been told, for many years, that my Grandfather John had magic words he used to keep the wolves away when he visited the water well in his hometown in Italy. To this day, no one knows what those words were so I leave it up to your imagination.

Recently a visiting priest told my family another story about someone who tried to rob his grandmother and she invited him in for a meal.

Both stories inspired me to be included in the Tale of La Befana.

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The Riepule family is excited to celebrate the holidays in their new country, the United States. All the bunnies are learning American ways, yet keeping the culture of Italy alive in their home and their hearts.

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Joby and his famiglia (family) were happy in their new home. He stays very busy with school, friends, and his new love of baseball.

His older sister Maria’s voice gets stronger and stronger. Her favorite opera singer is a beautiful woman named Cristina from New York City. Maria’s dream is to visit her there one day.

His sister, Annabella, continues to dance her way through life. She is fascinated by the new dances she has learned in America. Ballet stays at the top of her list.

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Papa Luigi works very hard to provide a good life for his family. He loves them all so very much Nonna and Nonno are happy. They love being with their grandbunnies.

Mamma Rosa is the busiest bunny of all. Christmas is coming soon and she is baking, cooking, cleaning, and decorating for Christmas. And then they will get ready for Epiphany, marking the arrival of La Befana.

All the bunnies in the Riepule family are excited about the arrival of La Befana.

In Italian folklore, Befana is an old woman who delivers gifts to children throughout Italy on Epiphany Eve in a similar way to St. Nicholas or Santa Claus.

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Joby and his sisters, Annabella and Maria, arrive at school on a very snowy and cold December day.

There was a Christmas assembly in the gym. The gym at their school had been beautifully decorated with lights and a Christmas tree. Joby was sure his teachers would be warning the students about their behavior. No one wants lumps of coal from La Befana, he thought.

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The students were forming a line, class by class. Joby couldn’t see why they were waiting in line.

He spotted his friend, at the front of this line, sitting on the lap of a rather large man in a red suit and cap. The man wore a huge black belt, black boots, had white hair and a white beard. And, Joby noticed, he had very red, rosy cheeks and a twinkle in his eye.

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Joby was curious. He thought, why do my classmates want to sit on this man’s lap and why are they telling him they want things a bunny could only dream about? Do they not know La Befana will be bringing all of them something special soon?

All of a sudden, the gentleman in the red suit bellowed out, “HO, HO, HO!” He smiled and handed out candy carrots. Joby and his sisters also visited this jolly man and told him what they wanted for Christmas, but they were not sure he would bring what they asked, but they did enjoy the candy carrots!

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At home, Nonna and Mamma Rosa were baking the Panettone for the holiday season. Papa Luigi and Nonno were busy with bunny chores outside.

When Joby and his sisters arrived home from school they all excitedly talked at once about Santa, the man in the red suit.

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While the bunnies were telling their Santa stories, Papa Luigi realized they would need more water for the next day. He pulled Joby aside and asked him to please go to the well to get water for the family.

Oh no, not the well, thought Joby. He did not like to go to the well to get water for the bunnies. His friends had warned him about Fox Gregory, who lived near the well, but Joby had never seen him there. Papa Luigi had told Joby what to do if he did see Fox Gregory. He told Joby the “MAGIC WORDS” to say.

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Off Joby hopped to the well, but this time he was not so lucky. He noticed he was not alone. He knew it was Fox Gregory who was near. When Joby turned around, he saw Fox Gregory and remembered what Papa Luigi said, “Say the magic words out loud and you will be safe.” Joby said the words.

The big red fox lay quietly and peacefully. Joby got the water from the well and hopped home.

Joby told Papa Luigi, “I did it Papa, I said the magic words!” Papa Luigi just smiled as he took the bucket of water inside.

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The next day at school, Stefano told Joby all about Christmas in America, Santa, and about the beautiful trees that sparkled in the forest on Christmas Eve. Joby asked, “But Stefano what about La Befana? Have you forgotten?”

La Befana has been an Italian tradition for many centuries. The story is that La Befana (an old witch) was too busy cleaning her house to go with the three wise men on Christmas Eve. When she realized the mistake she had made, she gathered up a bag of gifts and set out in search of the baby Jesus. Even though she followed the same star she couldn’t find the stable and to this day the Italian legend states that she still travels the world on a broom stick, in tattered and torn, soot-covered clothing searching for the baby Jesus. On January 6th the Feast of Epiphany, Italian children believe that Befana will reward them with candy and presents or, if they have not been on their best behavior, lumps of coal, by coming down their chimneys and filling their stockings.

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Stefano smiled and said, “Mio amico (my friend) La Befana will come too, after Christmas.”

Joby thought how wonderful it is here in America to be able to celebrate the American and Italian holidays, to have family and friends all together…but then Joby remembered Fox Gregory. What if the magic words don’t always work?

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It was Christmas Eve and Santa was coming. The bunnies enjoyed Christmas Eve dinner—fish, (even Italian Bunnies eat fish) along with all of the other tasty dishes prepared by Mamma Rosa and Nonna.

The Riepules even put a Christmas tree inside. Papa Luigi reminded the bunnies to get ready for church. This was the one night in the entire year the young bunnies were allowed to stay awake after midnight.

They hopped through the forest. There were many bunny paw prints in the snow. Stefano was right about the trees in the forest. They began to sparkle and there was a huge shining star in the sky as promised. Joby could not stop thinking about Fox Gregory. He wondered if he celebrated Christmas, if he had family, or, was he outside alone in the cold.

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The bunnies hurried home from church and snuggled in their beds when Nonna heard a noise. She thought it was the man in the red suit her grandbunnies told her about. She tiptoed through the house.

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“Oh, NO YOU DON’T MR. FOX!,” she yelled.

Fox Gregory was climbing out of the rabbit hole with an armload of gifts. Nonna grabbed Mr. Fox’s tail and pulled him back in.

By this time everyone was awake, well everyone but Nonno. The Rieupule family’s Christmas was in the arms of Fox Gregory.

Joby’s sister began to cry. Joby looked at Papa Luigi. Mamma Rosa just shook her head in disappointment.

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Fox Gregory slowly put down all of the Christmas packages and lowered himself to the floor in shame.

“WHY?” Joby asked.

Fox Gregory replied, “I have nothing. Your family has so much. Even Santa came to visit here. I have no Christmas.”

Nonna said, “You will spend Christmas with us, the Riepules.” All of the bunnies looked surprised.

Papa Luigi added, “And also wait with us for La Befana.”

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Fox Gregory thanked the bunnies over and over and over again.

From this Christmas forward, Joby was never afraid to go to the well again. He did not need the magic words. He had the magic of Christmas, of his family, and of La Befana.

La Befana came. There were no lumps of coal this year, only candy and presents for everyone, even Fox Gregory.

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Christmas in Italy!

Buona Natale! (Merry Christmas) The Christmas Season begins on December 8th and continues until January 6th, a magical experience with lights and music and dancing. Buona Festa! (Have a great holiday)

Some Italian customs and traditions during the Christmas Season: ● Saint Nicholas Day on December 6th—Children receive fruits, nuts, and sweets if they have been good throughout the last year. ● “Babbo Natale” (Father Christmas or Santa Claus) arrives on Christmas Eve (a more modern day tradition.) ● Epiphany on January 6th—The arrival of La Befana. ● The Feast of St. Stephen on December 26th—time to eat the leftover sweets (if any) from Christmas. ● Many attend midnight Mass on Christmas Eve. ● Food! MANGIA which means eat: » Panettone—a rich Italian bread made with eggs, fruit and butter, a dry fruity sponge cake. » Fish and vegetables are served on Christmas Eve because many Italians observe the custom of NO MEAT on this eve. » Pita Piata—a traditional Christmas cake made with raisins, nuts and sugar rolled in dough. » There are nativities everywhere...made out of many different materials...even PASTA! ● Writing letters to Father Christmas is a tradition for children in Italy, too. They also write letters to their parents telling them how much they love them and decorate the envelopes. Sometimes they add string to them so they can be hung on the tree. These letters are read aloud after lunch on Christmas Day, making the holiday a wonderful family affair.

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“Ms. Pishner’s words have captured the essence of a loving Italian family at Christmas—bunny rabbit style! I highly recommend that you buy and read this wonderful book to your child! And GRAZIE, Maria Rabbit, for admiring Cristina, the NY Italian Opera Singer!”

—Cristina Fontanelli, New York Italian Opera Singer “Hopping to America: A Rabbit’s Tale of La Befana illustrates one of many instances in which Italian immigrants adopted American traditions while continuing to preserve their own. The book also provides a glimpse of an Italian-American household at Christmastime and anyone with a nonna will appreciate the protection and hospitality of the family’s matriarch.”

—Leisa M. Muto, CPA, Assistant Professor of Accounting, Fairmont State University/Adjunct instructor of Italian “The Hopping to America series creatively and succinctly shares the struggles and the joys that our Italian ancestors experienced not only in immigrating to America, but also in the preservation of their heritage. Diana Pishner Walker has given us a gift that parents can share with their children for generations to come, thus insuring these meaningful and important stories continue to be told.”

—Jason A. Young, The Vintage Theatre Company, Clarksburg, WV Diana Pishner Walker was born in Clarksburg, WV and is the daughter of the late Louis and Anna Allessio Pishner. She attended Notre Dame High School in Clarksburg, WV and graduated in 1977.

She attended Fairmont State College, Fairmont WV and was a “Fast ForWord” computer aide at East Dale Elementary School. Diana resides in Fairmont, WV with her family. Her Italian roots run deep.

Her maternal grandparents were from San Giovani in Fiore, Province of Cosenza, Italy. Her paternal grandparents were from Caulonia, Reggio Calabria Italy. She is the author of two award winning books, Spaghetti & Meatballs: Growing Up Italian and Hopping to America: A Rabbit's Tale of Immigration. For more information visit www.DianaPishnerWalker.com.

Award-winning author and illustrator Ashley Teets is a 2012 summa cum laude graduate of Alderson-Broaddus College where she earned a B.F.A focusing on visual art with a minor in creative writing. After completing two semesters of graduate work at West Virginia University Ashley continued her graduate study through the Simmons College satellite graduate program at the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art in Amherst, Massachusetts. She also holds a Masters in Arts Administration through the University of Kentucky. Ashley is also a portrait artist, muralist and art instructor. For more information visit www.AshleyTeetsIllustration.com.