7. The Befana
Where: Italy
Price range: $20 to $40 for a custom Befana doll
An ancient tale from Italy tells of La Befana. Similar to Santa Claus, this kind elderly witch brings gifts to kids on Epiphany Eve in Italy. Because La Befana is associated with the end of the year and the broom is one of her primary emblems, she is portrayed as ugly.
La Fantasia ©Shutterstock/Massimo Todaro
La Befana makes space for new things by sweeping away the things of the past with her broom. In Tuscany, burning a La Befana doll represents the end of the year after she has delivered gifts—or coal, if you’re wicked.