ROME — For generations of Romans, Epiphany, not Christmas, was the holiday season’s main day for receiving gifts. They are dispensed overnight, according to Italian folklore, by the Befana, a ...
Santa Claus, tinkering elves and flying reindeer are universal symbols of Christmas, but in Northeast Pennsylvania they share the season with a wandering witch on a broomstick, a Ukrainian saint and a ...
A street seller holds a Befana doll at a market in Rome’s Piazza Navona. (Photo by ANDREAS SOLARO / AFP) Italy does Christmas very well, but there are a few traditions that may seem confusing or ...
What do Italians do at Christmas? Food, family and faith lie at the heart of the season, creating a rich tapestry of festive customs that vary from region to region. From nativity scenes and candlelit ...