The Befana comes at night, with her shoes...
In Italian folklore, Befana is an old woman who delivers gifts to children throughout Italy on Epiphany Eve (the night of January 5) in a similar way to Santa Claus or the Magi; she is a figure associated with the Italian Christmas season.
In Christmas folklore, Befana visits all the children in Italy on the eve of the Epiphany feast to fill their stockings with sweets, candies, dried fruit, and toys if they have been good.
Otherwise, those who have misbehaved find their stockings filled with coal or garlic. In many poorer parts of Italy, a stick was placed in a stocking instead of coal.
Being a good housekeeper, many say she will sweep the floor before leaving. For some, "sweeping away" means sweeping away the problems of the year.
She is usually depicted as a witch flying on a broomstick, wearing a black shawl, and covered in soot because she enters children's homes through the chimney. She often smiles and carries a bag, sack, or basket full of candies, gifts, or both.
Source Wikipedia
