Spooky Christmas

If you didn't know better, you might think that the Italians got Christmas mixed up with Halloween. If you're ever lucky enough to spend the Epiphany in Italy, don't be surprised if you see a witch giving out presents to the bambini. The Italian equivalent of Santa Claus is Babo Natale, but the true giver of gifts in Italy is La Befana, an old crone who looks just like a witch from your childhood nightmares. La Befana is derived from Epifania, the Italian for Epiphany. In the distant past the people of Italy thought La Befana was evil. They rang clay bells and made noise to keep her away. Now she is viewed as a gentle spirit that will give gifts to the children of Italy. Would you accept sweets from La Befana?


It seems some Christmas holiday traditions may have their roots in pre-Christian or pagan pastimes. I discovered there really are a lot of strange Christmas customs out there, especially in Great Britain. Take Wales, for example. They have one involving a dead horse’s head. I kid you not (maybe Francis Ford Coppola can make a movie about it). It’s called the Mari Lwyd, and it involves carrying around a horse’s head on a stick dressed in a sheet. Sort of like caroling. Only with a horse’s head. Do you know of any peculiar or spooky Christmas traditions? Were you afraid of the Wise Men or Santa Claus as a child?