Christmas traditions period, the death of the old year and the beginning of a new one. While gifts are now given at Christmas by an American style Santa Claus as well, Italy holds fast to its tradition of native gift-givers. On the eve of the 6th, la Befana, the good Epiphany witch, is thought to ride the night skies on broomstick, bringing good children gifts and sweets, and bad ones charcoal or bags of ashes. In other areas it is the Three Wise Men who bring gifts, especially oranges symbolizing gold, and chocolate symbolizing their kisses to good children. In some municipalities,
Christmas Who? live-action character who is preparing for Christmas, along with his "pet," Potty the Parrot (voiced by series' creator Stephen Hillenburg), a crudely made puppet with very obvious strings. Patchy receives a fan letter from a person, asking if SpongeBob likes Christmas as much as he does. Patchy explains that they did not always celebrate Christmas in Bikini Bottom, and decides to show how they were introduced to it, beginning the proper episode. While heading to the treedome of Sandy Cheeks for a surprise visit, SpongeBob SquarePants is horrified to see her electrifying the tree with an arrangement of colored Christmas