Poor old Baboushka, when a bunch of blokes rocked up to her house, dressed to the nines and carrying precious gifts, she dismissed their plea to join them opting instead for a warm fire and a spot of spinning. Who hasn't made their excuses to finish off a little knitting? The story goes she felt guilty about fobbing them off and tried to follow the Magi the very next day. She packed up gifts for the Christ child but could't follow the men's trail through the fresh snow. Unable to reach the child, she handed out her gifts to other children she met in her search.

Unlike our yarn-loving friend, La Befana was, like us all, a little stressed out by the pending arrival of Christ. There were too many household chores for this Italian witch to accompany the wise men on their journey to Bethlehem, and she figured she'd hear all the news when they came back through. However, the wise men took a different route out of Bethlehem and she was left to scramble and try and find the child herself. Not knowing where to find Jesus, and without the Magi's directions, she flies from home to home on her broomstick leaving a small gift in case the child is there.

Saint Lucy, or Lucia, had a charitable bent that was her ultimate downfall. She was promised to marry despite a personal commitment of religious faith and, as seemed her nature, gave away her dowry to the community's most needy. Her betrothed wasn't quite so charitable. In fact, he was a violent man who sanctioned a horrific end to his fiancee's life. The Italian Saint's good deeds live on, mostly in Sweden where she is recognised as Lussibruden. On Saint Lucy's feast day, December 13, the youngest daughter of each household gives service to her family by preparing a special breakfast and bearing the light, or a crown of candles to represent Lucia's 'light'.

She's blonde, wears a veil, a white robe and golden wings. Of course she does. She's also the damn sweetest angel you'll ever never meet. The tradition is German, and the story goes that the Christkindl Angel appears on Christmas eve with a message from Jesus - the Christ child, or Christkind. Children must leave a window open for her to enter their home and the only sign she's been is the sounding of a silver bell.