2. “Buone Feste” is how the children in Italy say, Happy Holidays.

3. In Italy, Christmas is a very festive season. The first Christmas Carols were said to have been sung in Italy.

4. The period of time 9 days before Christmas is called the Novena. It is a festive time with bagpipers dressed in sheepskin performing in the street.

5. Italians love to share their manger scenes. They are called Presepios. The Presepio remains empty until Christmas Eve. On Christmas Eve the family gathers around the manger and the Christ child figure is passed around and then placed in the manger. The family then eats a meatless supper, pranzo della vigilia. The pranzo della vigilia may include eel, squid, octopus, and clams.

6. Christmas day is for Church, family, and feasting.

7. Traditionally in Italy, children did not receive gifts until January 6 th which is called Epiphany. The gifts are given to the children by a tiny woman dressed in black riding on a broomstick. Her name is La Bafana

8. La Bafana rides her broomstick from house to house. She uses her broomstick to slide down the chimneys. Other times, she may come in the window. She always leaves gifts in the shoes of good children, a piece of firewood for the poor, and lumps of coal or ashes for children who have been bad. She has been known to take really wicked children with her.

9. The story of La Bafana says that she travels in search of the Christ Child. She was busy sweeping when the 3 wise men came searching for Jesus. The stopped at La Bafana’s house and asked her to go with them. La Bafana refused because she had too much work to do. She said that she would join them when she was done. After she finished cleaning, she gathered some gifts and set out to find the wise men but, she got lost. It is said that she is still searching for him today.

10. The holidays look like a lot of fun for Italian Children.