On the 6th January of every year - for the Three Kings celebration - in Venice there's the traditional "Regata delle Befane" (Befanas regatta).
Members of the various rowing clubs dress up as witches, load their brooms on the boats and the rowing race starts. From the Rialto Bridge a giant stocking with gifts is hung. According to Italian tradition, on the night between 5th and 6th January, for the day of Epiphany (a Christian feast day that celebrates the revelation of God the Son as a human being in Jesus Christ: the feast commemorates the visit of the Magi - three wise men - to the Christ child), the Befana - and old and ugly woman - flies from house to house on the search for baby Jesus leaving gifts and sweets in a stocking for the well-behaved children.
Some pictures in a gallery here:
