Who is the Befana Christmas witch?

According to the Italian tradition, the Befana is an old woman who brings presents to every child during the night of January 5th. She comes down from the chimney and fills socks with candies. Very often, children are scared by the Befana because she looks like a witch riding her broom and they’re afraid because if they have been naughty during the past year she will bring them coal instead of sweets. Truth is this is just the way parents try to convince their kids to be obedient and not to misbehave.