Out beyond the ideas wrong doing and right doing there is a table, named after an old woman from ancient Italian folklore known for delivering children gifts every Epiphany Eve, I’ll meet you there.
—Dina—
About
Greetings! I’m Dina—and welcome to La Befana’s Table—a Substack, podcast, and gathering space inspired by Italy’s legendary gift-giver. I created La Befana’s Table because I longed for a place—both ancient and new—where the whole of me could encounter the whole of you. A place to share the stories of our journeys, learn from one another’s experiences, cultivate meaningful connections, and enjoy some laughs along the way.
What to Expect:
Unfiltered musings meant to warm the heart & stir the Soul.
Curious conversations with dear friends, artists, poets, culture makers, wise elders, community weavers, and everyday people who are utilizing their gifts to make the world a more beautiful place
Updates regarding the latest happenings at La Befana’s Table including community gatherings, dinner experiences, workshops, & retreats.
What Folks are Saying
While much of the content is available for free, you are invited to become a Supporting Subscriber of La Befana’s Table for $5 a month/$50 a year or a founding member of our Befanini Squad for $150/year
Supporting Subscribers of La Befana’s Table Enjoy:
Access to our monthly Connection Hour at the virtual table.
Access to paywalled content, & private chat threads
Discounts to IRL and virtual gatherings, workshops, & retreats
Founding Members of Our Befanini Squad Enjoy:
All of the above plus…
Opportunities to guest post
A gift box of Befanini cookies prepared by our friends at Dilena’s Dolcini
Our Story
After a long and winding journey of searching for a place where I felt like I truly belonged, a magical guide appeared in the most unexpected form—a puppet of Italy’s legendary La Befana.
Though I had never puppeteered before, a chance encounter at a friend’s Fourth of July party—with a woman who mentioned she had a puppet of Italy’s legendary La Befana tucked away on a shelf—catapulted me upon a three-year journey of bringing this folkloric figure to life in the streets of my Harlem neighborhood.
At the height of the global pandemic, La Befana teamed up with City Relief, handing out cookies to those in need and providing much needed moments of comic relief.
Like any good guide, La Befana led me from the loneliness and isolation of the pandemic into meaningful connections with my neighbors, creating a bridge not only between self and other, but also between an ancient legend from my ancestral cultural heritage and the one unfolding before my eyes.
Through the encounters I had with her on the streets, I discovered a sense of deep belonging, rooted in the realization that I was part of a Living Legend.
Today, I carry the lessons learned from this transformative chapter of my life journey into my work as the Creator & Host of La Befana’s Table
To learn more, I invite you to watch my Speaker Salon performance, where I share the story of the journey that led to the creation of La Befana’s Table.
