Christmas in Italy is celebrated from early December until January 6th. Children look forward to decorating houses and trees in December. On December 6th, families celebrate St. Nicholas Day, where children write letters to St. Nicholas and hang socks hoping for gifts. On Christmas Eve, there is often a fast before midnight mass, and now gifts are brought by Babbo Natale, similar to Father Christmas. However, gift giving traditionally occurs on January 6th, the Epiphany, when La Befana searches houses for the Christ Child.