9. The Italian Witch Befana
In Italy, Christmas festivities don’t conclude until January 6th—the Epiphany—when ‘La Befana,’ a friendly witch, delivers candy to good children and coal to naughty ones. Her legend dates back to medieval folklore and predates Santa Claus, blending pagan, Christian, and local influences. Children eagerly await her visit, leaving out stockings or shoes filled with hay or carrots for her broomstick-riding donkey. In return, they hope to find sweets and toys in their shoes by morning. For those who have misbehaved, La Befana leaves lumps of coal—often made from black rock candy—symbolizing a gentle reminder to improve their behavior (blog.italotreno.com).
