Instead of Santa Claus, Italians have Befana, an Italian witch that leaps from building to building delivering presents on Epiphany Eve (January 5th). Much like Santa, she delivers toys and candies to good children, while bad children get a lump of coal.
Christmas celebrations goes back several centuries, dating as far back as the second century in Rome. Since ancient Rome was comprised of Christians, it is no wonder this specific celebration has stood the test of time. This explains the presence of so many religious holidays and their observances. The reason for not eating meat on Christmas Eve was also religious, since Roman Catholics would not consume meat on the night before a feast day.
In a sociological context, Christmas is a religious holiday so it is no surprise that is heavily influenced by religion. Ancient Rome is also considered one of the first modern civilizations in the Western world, which has contributed to its extensive influence on culture, traditions, language and religion. From an ecological perspective, Christmas food is typically made from local ingredients, which influence the types of dishes used during this time. For example, cities on the coasts would have a heavier emphasis on seafood-based dishes than central cities.
