La Befana: La Befana, AKA the Christmas Witch, is a gift giving figure of Yuletide lore. She is the resident gift giver of Italy and while she was traditionally viewed as a housewife whose broom was a hold over from her homemaking she has become increasingly associated with Witches, with her headscarf being replaced in many instances with a Witches pointy hat. Unlike many other figures she brings gifts not on Christmas but on the Feast of Epiphany (January 6th). Her folklore says that she was an old housewife who the Three Magi stayed with and offered to have her come along, she refused but later changed her mind. Supposedly she is still searching for the “Christ Child”. This folk tale was largely held in Rome and spread out in the last few centuries to the rest of Italy. She is one of many female figures of Yule similar to the Germanic goddesses Frau Holle, Frau Gode, and Frau Perchta. The latter of which actually entering Italian folklore via Tyrol. When she comes to homes she leaves gifts for the good children likely candy or small toys or even Wine, while bad children receive onions, vegetables, coal, and in more recent times Carbone a kind of coal like dark candy, of which many dark candies are used by La Befana for punishing the less than good kids. She rides her broom across the sky and lands in homes covered in the soot from the Chimney, it is said she sweeps the house before she leaves, sweeping away the problems of the old year along with the dust. Similar to Belsnickel, Sinterklaas, and Father Christmas; La Befana is likely a thinly veiled Pagan deity or spirit. The most likely option is the Sabine goddess Strenia (Also called Strenua) . This is considered the case for a number of reasons, La Befana is more tied into the New Year than Christmas itself, same with Strenia who was a goddess of many things including prosperity, new beginnings, and even the New year itself, a position she often held with the Roman god Janus. Strenia was also said to love children dearly. In this way the festival of La Befana is a continuation of New Year rites for the goddess Strenia. During which gifts of local candy and toys are given, along with many local delicacies such as Spiced Wine, Chestnuts, and Crostolo (a kind of flatbread). The giving of New Years gifts was also something common around Strenia these New Years gifts were called “Strenae” and supposedly while similar to Berchta La Befana's name is sometimes argued to derive from a corruption of the word “Epiphany” La Befana is more likely to have her names origins in “Bastrina” another name for the gifts from Strenia. Sadly similar to other figures like the Yule Goat, The Yule Lads, Father Christmas, and even Sinterklaas the beloved America Tradition of Santa Claus has begun to push the good witch off of her broom. While as an American I am rather fond of Santa I do hope the Italians don't allow this beautiful tradition and continuation of their pagan rituals go by the wayside.