The Befana Fair, during the Italian end-of-year celebrations

La Befana is a typical figure in Italian folklore, linked to the feast of the Nativity. Her name comes from a distortion of the word Epiphany (Epifania in Italian).
According to tradition, La Befana visits all the homes where children live on the night before Epiphany (6 January). For those who have been good and kind throughout the year, La Befana leaves sweets or chocolates in their socks, which they have carefully hung near the fireplace or window.
The Befana is often depicted as an old woman flying on her broomstick. But unlike a witch, she is often smiling and carries a purse and a bag full of sweets and gifts.