The Legend of the Christmas Witch

The Legend of the Christmas Witch

Year: 2018

Runtime: 98 mins

Language: Italian

Director: Michele Soavi

ComedyFantasyFamily

Six elementary school students believe their missing teacher may be Befana, a legendary Christmas witch who rewards children with gifts. Determined to find her, they embark on a magical adventure filled with wonder and unexpected challenges, hoping to rescue her from an unknown fate and restore the Christmas spirit.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline – The Legend of the Christmas Witch (2018)

Trace every key event in The Legend of the Christmas Witch (2018) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Paola's daytime life as a schoolteacher

Paola works as a schoolteacher in an Italian town by day, guiding her students with care while guarding a centuries-old secret. Each year on January 6 she becomes the Befana at the stroke of midnight, a duty she must conceal from the world. Her ordinary routine and the hidden role she plays shape the choices she makes in coming nights.

Daytime Italian town
2

Midnight transformation into the Befana

At midnight, Paola transforms into the Befana and flies through the night to deliver gifts and surprises. A dog chewing the Rolodex she uses to track children compromises her records and delays one crucial delivery. The damaged Rolodex seeds Giovanni's lifelong grudge against her.

Midnight, January 6 Paola's home
3

Giovanni's grievance grows

Giovanni Rovasio blames the Befana for his misfortunes, including his parents' divorce, after the late delivery. He carries a bitter memory of that night into adulthood. This resentment foreshadows the later rise of Mr. Johnny.

Years after the failed delivery Giovanni Rovasio's home
4

Twenty-five years later: Giovanni becomes Mr. Johnny

In the years that follow, Giovanni becomes the villainous Mr. Johnny, intent on controlling the toy-delivery operation. He kidnaps Paola to seize her powers and the children's wishes network. Riccardo, a student from Paola's class, witnesses the kidnapping.

Twenty-five years later Town and vicinity of Paola's home
5

Riccardo and classmates investigate Paola's cellar

Riccardo, along with five classmates, investigates Paola's storage cellar for clues about her disappearance. They quickly realize Paola's Befana identity is real, hidden behind a gentle teacher's façade. This discovery sets them on a rescue mission.

Following the kidnapping Paola's storage cellar
6

The children are trapped and a knife halts the trap

Mr. Johnny's men corner the children and push them toward a trash compactor. Riccardo drops his father's Swiss Army knife into the gears, jamming the machine and saving the children from being crushed. The narrow escape deepens their resolve to defeat Johnny.

Shortly after the kidnapping Near Johnny's factory/compactor area
7

Paola is bound to a Christmas tree and the fire begins

Mr. Johnny ties Paola to a Christmas tree and lights the surrounding gifts as kindling, hoping to burn away her power. The flames threaten to destroy her, but the moment the clock strikes midnight triggers her full Befana transformation. The fire scene marks the turning point where her magic is confirmed once more.

Midnight, January 6 Inside Johnny's toy factory
8

The Befana breaks free and takes flight; chase ensues

With the midnight power rekindled, Paola breaks her bonds and takes to the sky on her broom. Mr. Johnny pursues her on a jet-propelled hoverboard, setting off a dangerous pursuit through the toy factory. The chase ends with the Befana being trapped in a protective bubble by Johnny.

Moment after transformation Outside or inside the toy factory
9

The children attempt a rescue but are captured

The children attempt to reach the factory to rescue Paola, but Johnny's men capture them before they can intervene. Paola agrees to surrender the treasured letters containing children's gift wishes, hoping to guide the search to the mountain hideout. The group prepares to move the letters to safety.

Shortly after the bubble trap Toy factory area
10

Giacomo arrives, discovers the secret, and reorients the rescue

Giacomo arrives at Paola's home seeking answers, finds her missing, and discovers her Befana identity in the storage cellar. His owl companion guides him toward the factory, and he joins the effort to free the children. The rescue shifts toward a broader plan to reach the mountain and recover the letters.

Soon after the kidnapping Paola's home and then Johnny's toy factory
11

The journey to the mountain to recover the letters

Paola, Giacomo, and the children head toward the mountain where the letters are hidden, hoping to reclaim the wishes and thwart Johnny's scheme. They face obstacles, but the mission reinforces their unity and determination. The letters become a beacon guiding their next move.

After the factory incident Mountain
12

Final confrontation atop the mountains

In a climactic battle, Johnny fights Paola and her companions on the mountainside. During the struggle, Johnny and Paola topple from a cliff, and the fate of the town hangs in the balance. The group witnesses the dramatic fall and prepares for the consequences.

During the final confrontation Cliff edge on the mountain
13

A new January 6 dawns; a fragile peace and a threat remains

The next January 6, Riccardo finds his Swiss Army knife in his stocking, a symbol of the former mission and its legacy. He sees Paola walking through town with Giacomo, signaling a new chapter for the Befana's protector. Mr. Johnny swears vengeance, leaving a lingering threat over the town's fragile peace.

Next year's January 6 Town

Last Updated: October 01, 2025 at 13:06

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The Legend of the Christmas Witch Summary

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Characters, Settings & Themes in The Legend of the Christmas Witch

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