Out beyond the ideas wrongdoing and rightdoing 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—
Greetings!
I’m Dina—and welcome to La Befana’s Table—a Substack, podcast, and gathering space inspired by a figure from ancient Italian folklore. I created La Befana’s Table because I longed for a place — one that is 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, participate in curious conversations, cultivate meaningful connections, celebrate our shared humanity, & have some laughs. Think of it as a culturally rooted, heart-forward gathering space for all who long to belong.
La Befana’s Table as a Third Place
“The phrase ‘third places’ derives from considering our homes to be the ‘first’ places in our lives, and our workplaces the ‘second’…The character of a third place is determined most of all by its regular clientele and is marked by a playful mood, which contrasts with people’s more serious involvement in other spheres…They are the heart of a community’s social vitality, the grassroots of democracy, but sadly, they constitute a diminishing aspect of the American social landscape. Life without community has produced, for many, a lifestyle consisting mainly of a home-to-work-and-back again shuttle. Social well-being and psychological health depend upon community.”
-Ray Oldenburg
What to Expect Around Here
Personal stories & musings meant to warm the heart & stir the Soul.
Curious conversations with dear friends, strangers, neighbors, artists, poets, culture makers, wise elders, community weavers, and everyday people who are utilizing their gifts to make the world a more beautiful place
Information on the latest happenings at La Befana’s Table including invitations to community gatherings both online & IRL, performances, workshops, & retreats.
What Folks are Saying
While most of what I share here is accessible to all, you are invited to become a Gift Giver for $5 a month/$50 a year or a founding member of our Befanini Squad for $180/year
Gift Givers Enjoy:
My deepest gratitude for supporting my work in the world.
Access to our monthly Connection Hour at the virtual table.
Access to comments, paywalled content, & private chat threads
Discounts to IRL and virtual gatherings, experiences, workshops, & retreats
Founding Members of Our Befanini Squad Enjoy:
All of the above plus…
A gift box of Italian 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 long 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 La Befana on the streets of New York, I discovered a sense 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 performance at NYC’s Triad Theater where I first shared the story of the journey that led to the creation of La Befana’s Table.
