I pause in my editing of the Scheide tribute to briefly remind everyone that tonight, being the eve of Epiphany, marks the arrival of Befana the Christmas witch. Befana is the wizened crone who bestows gifts and happiness upon the good children of Italy. If the children are bad, they get a lump of coal. (If the family is poor, they get a stick.) It’s traditional to leave a glass of wine and a tasty morsel for Befana. In return, she will sweep the floors with her broom, symbolically sweeping away the problems of the old year.

Yet again, European Christmas traditions are sooooooo pagan.