In Italy, Christmas is celebrated on the 25th of December and is a national holiday. On Christmas Eve, children leave their shoes out for Befana, an old woman who rides a broomstick and brings them presents. Families gather together to enjoy a large dinner, usually consisting of meat, pasta, and vegetables. After dinner, they open their presents and enjoy the rest of the night together. During the day on Christmas Day, people usually go to church, attend mass, and then spend the rest of the day with their families and friends.