In the lowlands regions and lower slopes of the Apennines bordering the western coast from northern Tuscany to the vicinity of Rome, winters are mild and sunny. Along the upper eastern slopes of the Apennines, climatic conditions are bleak. The lowest annual rainfall, about 460 mm, occurs in the Apulian province of Foggia in the south and in southern Sicily. The highest annual rainfall, about 1525 mm, occurs in the province of Udine in the northeast. In the south, women who have fits of hysteria in remote villages are thought to have been bitten by tarontole , or devils, represented by poisonous spiders.
Treatment is given by the priest.
Where people live close to the soikl theree is a strong belief in the evil eye and witchcraft. It is a cutom on New Year's Eve to get rid of unwanted things. As well as Santa Claus, Italy has La Beffana , a little old lady, ugly but wise, who stuffs shoes with presents on Epiphany. Epiphany is held on January 6, to celebrate the visit to Christ from the Three Kings. Some Italian Superstitions Gnocchi are small round potato dumplings.