BEFANA LA FESTA DELL'EPIFANIA (EPIPHANY - THE 12TH NIGHT OF CHRISTMAS)
Location: Rome
Date: January 6
This festival is almost more popular among Italian children than Christmas itself. La Befana is a character in Italian folklore, similar to Santa Claus, who visits all the children of Italy on the eve of 6 January to fill their socks with sweets if they are good or a lump of coal if they are bad. A popular market, the Fiera della Befana, takes place each year between Christmas and the Epiphany in Piazza Navona in the centre of Rome, where toys, sugar charcoal and candies are sold for the
Roman children.

VIAREGGIO CARNEVALE (CARNIVAL)
Location: Viareggio
Date: Late January (20 and 27 January in 2008) and early February (3, 5 and 10 February in 2008)
First held in 1873 and is now one of the most famous pre-Lent carnivals in the world.