Babbo Natale, or Father Christmas is gaining popularity in Italy. Babbo Natale, Italy's version of Santa Claus, is becoming more popular and gift giving on Christmas day is becoming more common. La Befana, the old woman who delivers gifts on Epiphany, January 6 is still the more popular Christmas figure.

Babbo Natale is a skinnier and more regal looking version of Santa Claus. They both wear red cloaks with white trim, but Santa Claus has most decidedly enjoyed more second helpings at the dinner table than Babbo Natale.

Historically, Christmas has been more reserved in Italy than in other European countries and certainly more reserved than the raucous month long Christmas season enjoyed in the US. Many Italians now hang Christmas stockings for Babbo Natale to fill.

Mt. Etna, Europe's most active volcano, is causing problems at the airport in Catania, Sicily. The airport was initially closed on November 24, 2006 and remained closed to overnight traffic for 5 nights. The Fontanarossa airport in Catania is the main airport in eastern Sicily.

The November 24 explosion covered the town of Catania with a fine later of black ash. Mt. Etna has been causing problems for residents of the eastern part of Sicily for centuries. The citizens of Catania took this latest eruption in stride by using umbrellas to protect themselves from falling ash. Catania is located about 3 miles from Mt. Etna. In 1669, Catania was destroyed by a huge eruption of Mt. Etna. When you visit eastern Sicily, you can still see the impact of that eruption in the many towns and cities of the area.

Mt. Etna was spewing ash 5,000 meters high. According to Antonella Scalzo, a geologist with Italy's Civil Defense Department, “This is all part of Etna’s normal activity. The ash is a nuisance, it is not a precursor of a change in activity.”

The lack of Italian Nativity scenes in IKEA stores in Italy has caused a furor. Two politicians are calling for a boycott of IKEA for not selling the traditional Italian Nativity scenes. Nativity scenes, also called the presepio, are traditional in Italy at Christmas.

IKEA was founded in Sweden and is currently owned by a Dutch registered foundation. A spokesperson for IKEA said that they have never sold nativity scenes because they are not part of the Scandinavian tradition that the IKEA stores promote.