La Befana is a traditional character in Italy associated with the Feast of the Epiphany, right after Christmas. She swoops down chimneys to bring good children gifts, and bad children coal. In legend, she was invited by the three Magi to visit the infant Jesus, but she declined, being too busy. She changed her mind eventually, but could not find them, so she still searches, leaving gifts at houses with children.
My dad had many a fond memory of La Befana when he was a child. :)