La Befana has been associated with gift giving at Epiphany since at least the 13th C. She is represented as an old witch with a broomstick who descends down the chimney to delivery gifts or carbone to the bad children. All children are known to be bad at some time so they all receive carbone, which is made of sugar and sold at local pasticcerie. Some regions substitute onions or garlic in replacement of the coal.
