Italy is a country shaped like a boot in Europe.  Italy was the first place that Christmas was celebrated.  Italians tell friends and neighbors, "Buon Natale" to wish someone a Merry Christmas.  

Christmas Carols originated in Italy hundreds of years ago.  Italian families celebrate Christmas as a religious and family holiday in Italy.  Family members from all over gather together to visit church, cook food, and eat huge feasts.  They celebrate Christmas from December 18th until January 6th.  The very last day of the Christmas season good children receive presents from La Befana. 
 

Italian children receive gifts from an old lady named La Befana.  La Befana is the Italian version of our Santa Claus.  Italian legend says that several hundred years ago Three Wise Men rested at the home of an old woman on the way to Bethlehem.  The three men were taking gifts to the Christ child in Bethlehem.  The Three Wise Men asked La Befana to join them on their journey but she said, "No thanks".  She was way too busy sweeping to leave her house.  She told the Three Wise Men that she would catch up with them.  Later on, La Befana finished her sweeping and took off looking for the three men.  La Befana used her broomstick to fly around looking for the Three Wise Men.  But the three kings were nowhere in sight.  She soon lost her way and headed back home.  Before she went home, she dropped off her gifts at good children's houses.  Now, every January 6th, La Befana uses her broomstick to fly through chimneys and windows looking for good children.  If a child was good for the year they find presents in their shoes, but if a child was bad they find coals in their shoes.