On January 6th, Epiphany is national holiday and day of gifts for the children. This festival is celebrated around Italy. Befana is a friendly character in Italian folklore, similar to Santa Claus. Her name means 'giver of gifts', and she visits all the children in Italy, to fill their stockings with candy and toys if they are good or a lump of coal if they are bad. The origin of the tradition is covered in mystery, but legend said that La Befana was approached by the three wise men on the night of Christ's birth. They asked an old woman for food and drink, but the woman refused, and the three wise men kept on walking. A while after they had gone, the woman realized what she had done, and tried to search out for the wise men and the baby Jesus. That night she was not able to find them, so to this day, La Befana is searching for the Christ child. They say she disguises herself as a good witch who we call "La Befana" who rides on a broomstick looking for the baby Jesus, leaving candy for children on her way. La Befana is usually portrayed as an old lady, riding a broomstick through the air. Unlike a witch though, she is often smiling and she has a bag filled with candy and presents. The child's family will always leave a plate of broccoli and spice sausage with a small glass of wine for Befana. This celebration ends the Christmas season; as the saying goes, "Epiphany takes away all the festivities". Befana also exists in various other popular traditions. For instance in the evening of January 5th a marionette representing "The Old Woman", symbolizing the poverty of winter, is burnt in the main square of some small towns to bode a fertile spring. Don’t forget to leave your socks hanging beside the fireplace!