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In 1970 advent calender's, Christmas trees, and Santa clause were only a thing in Northern Italy.

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Christmas was not a thing in the 1970s in southern italy it was all about the Befana. Even when christmas did start to creep in, in the 1980s litte attention was payed to bobbo natale

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Befana has a big nose because women and men dress up as her and nose sing love songs for the children

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Elsewhere in Italy Epiphany is celebrated with a religious procession.  In Vatican City every year at 11 AM hundreds of people dressed in medieval costumes follow behind the three Wise Men on horseback up Via della Conciliazione to St. Peter’s Square where the Pope performs a commemorative mass.

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January 6 is a national holiday in Italy, many festivals take place around Italy for the Befana.

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Christmas Day itself was a religious, not a commercial holiday with family

a fish dinner on Christmas Eve, midnight Mass; then on the 25th morning Mass with the Pope’s message afterwards on TV and a huge meal followed by an afternoon of family card or board games.

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In Vatican City every year at 11 AM hundreds of people dressed in medieval costumes follow behind the three Wise Men on horseback

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The Epiphany marks the beginning of carnevale

La Befana arrives on her broomsick during the night of January 5th and fills stockings with candy

In return for candy, La Befana has a glass of wine that was left for her

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The origins La befana probably go back to the Romans' pagan festival of Saturnalia

Roast lamb is Epiphany's traditional dish

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befana beauty contest will take place on the 5-6 in Fornovo di Taro outside Parma

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at 11 am hundreds of people dressed up as medieval folk follow the the three wise man in the Vatican up Via Della Conciliazione

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In 1970 there were no Christmas trees, Santa Claus, or advent calendars in Italy. There wasn't even a tree in St. Peter's Square.

The holiday season in Italy begins on December 8. December is the Immaculate Conception.

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The town of Urbania  in the region of Marche is the Befana's official home town. Every year they have a four day festival and it is one of the biggest in Italy.

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January 6, commemorates the 12th day of Christmas when the wise men brought presents to baby Jesus.

Epiphany marks the beginning of carnival.