While Italy’s cast of Christmas characters includes some very familiar figures — Babbo Natale (Santa), naturally, and La Befana, the frumpy Christmas witch who broom-zooms around the country delivering gifts on Epiphany Eve — more obscure (and bizarre) traditions decorate the Italian landscape at Christmastide. Here’s a look at some lesser-known customs taking place around the peninsula during the festive season.

Befani. Nah, this one's not what you think. Befani are not a blatant misspelling of befana but a cheeky twist on her traditional role, in perfect keeping with the legendary umorismo toscano (Tuscan sense of humor). Come the close of Christmastide on January 6, Tuscan men dress up as befani or befanotti, raggedy male witches in drag who accompany La Befana through towns and villages on her gift-giving procession.