Did you know that Italy has a Christmas Witch, La Befana? Yes. The gift giver in Italy is a woman!
La Befana flies on her broomstick on the Eve of the Epiphany, January 5, to leave candy, or charcoal, in children’s stockings! In Italy, children hang stockings on the Eve of the Epiphany, the celebration of the visit of the Wise Men to the Christ child, which is also the eve of Twelfth Night. The legend of why La Befana brings gifts is somewhat sad, but it is celebrated robustly in Italy during the holidays.
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