The Befana is one of the most beloved traditions in Italy: a cheerful old lady who flies on a broomstick and, on the night between January 5 and 6, visits homes to leave sweets and small gifts for “good” children and a bit of coal (often made of sugar!) for the mischievous ones. It’s a celebration filled with magic, but also with simple messages: remembering others, closing the festivities with joy, and starting the new year with energy. The reason the Befana “comes” on January 6 is linked to an