Befana their socks with candy and presents if they are good, or a lump of coal or dark candy if they are bad. In many poorer parts of Italy and in particular rural Sicily, a stick in a stocking was placed instead of coal. Being a good housekeeper, many say she will sweep the floor before she leaves. To some the sweeping meant the sweeping away of the problems of the year. The child's family typically leaves a small glass of wine and a plate with a few morsels of food, often regional or local, for the Befana. She is usually
The Christmas Hope The Christmas Hope The Christmas Hope is a 2009 American-Canadian made-for-television drama film directed by Norma Bailey and starring Madeleine Stowe which was broadcast on Lifetime on December 13, 2009. It is the third part in a trilogy of films, preceded by "The Christmas Shoes" (2002) and "The Christmas Blessing" (2005). After the recent loss of her son Sean—a minor character in "The Christmas Blessing"—Patty Addison (Madeleine Stowe) devotes herself to finding homes for needy children. The loss of Sean has strained Patty's relationship with her husband Mark, an airline pilot. But they reconnect emotionally when they take in Emily,