If you click “Agree and Continue” below, you acknowledge that your cookie choices in those tools will be respected and that you otherwise agree to the use of cookies on NPR’s sites. Later, someone painted a smiling face on the flat end of the log, put a barretina on his head (the traditional red knitted Catalan hat) and laid a blanket over his lower back to keep him ‘warm’ at … Tió de Nadal - Caga tió - Catalan Christmas log and song A popular Christmas tradition in Barcelona and the Catalonia province of Spain is the 'Tió de Nadal' also called the 'Caga tió. So what’s all this about ‘Caga Tió’ (‘Poop log’)? It's basically a present-pooping log that has to be beaten with a stick to make it yield cool presents. In fact, every night they “feed” the log with candies, nuts and fruits. Spain is home to some very curious traditions, and never more so than over the Christmas period. One of these bizarre customs is the Tió de Nadal o Caga Tió that is celebrated in the run up to Christmas Day. The form of the Tió de Nadal found in many Aragonese and Catalan homes during the holiday season is a hollow log about thirty centimetres long. In Spain, you rock around the Christmas… log! Tio is a hollow log, about 30cm long with four stick legs and smiling face, topped off with a … caga tió! Each Christmas, in homes all over Catalonia, Spain, a Caga Tio is kept in the kitchen or dining room near the fire as … Maybe their father will take them off to the kitchen, there to slightly ‘warm’ their sticks in the oven; basically anything to get them out of sight of Tió where the mother quickly hides chocolates, turron, neules (very fine, rolled up, cigar-shaped Christmas biscuits) and other sweets and small presents under the blanket. A small wooden log, usually with two legs in front, he lurks, covered in a blanket, with his cheery grin and barretina hat, in the corner of shop windows or on sale at Christmas street markets. It’s of the most curious of all Spanish Christmas traditions and it’s found in the Catalonia region. Over time, it became a symbol of other gifts given to the household at Christmas, such as candy, nougat, and wafers. Obviously, for the tió to poop out presents it must be fed. et daré un cop de bastó. Literally translated as the “poopy log,” caga tió is a piece of log (actual wooden log) that gets dressed up with a hat, a cape and some stick arms and usually a goofy grin. Related article: 14 things to do in Barcelona on a Sunday Where does the Caga There are almost as many Tió songs as there are households. Cultural events in Andorra with Clare Allcard. The children had to take great care of Tió for he was a magic log. M'encantava fer cagar el Tió quan era petita, bé, de fet, encara em continua agradant. Maybe each lot of presents is from a different adult in the family? You may click on “Your Choices” below to learn about and use cookie management tools to limit use of cookies when you visit NPR’s sites. The Tió started bringing nuts to Catalan-speaking children some three hundred years before Father Christmas arrived to fill their stockings. Later, someone painted a smiling face on the flat end of the log, put a barretina on his head (the traditional red knitted Catalan hat) and laid a blanket over his lower back to keep him ‘warm’ at night. During the holiday season you will find this little character in many Catalan and Aragonese homes. a highly popular Christmas figurine that is in the act of defecating in Catalan nativity scenes As Christmas approaches you will see him all over the place. NPR’s sites use cookies, similar tracking and storage technologies, and information about the device you use to access our sites (together, “cookies”) to enhance your viewing, listening and user experience, personalize content, personalize messages from NPR’s sponsors, provide social media features, and analyze NPR’s traffic. ... Justine Ancheta writes fervently about Barcelona and Spain. Caga Tió is a particular Catalan Christmas tradition. Not only because of the massive parades of the wise men, the most outstanding lottery of this time of year in Europe or the competitions to have the greatest lights.Also because of the rich folklore that has been created around these celebrations for centuries.These are curious Spanish Christmas traditions that reflect the … ... #3 - Caga Tio - Once again let me have Wikipedia help with this one! Each small child is armed with a short stick. Not only would the Tió log eventually bring warmth and light to the hearth but, the more they filled him up with food the more, hopefully, he would poop nuts and sweets for them on the night of Christmas Eve. Once ready, the children are called back to stand around Tió and sing to him whilst tapping him with their sticks. Originally the Caga Tió was just a large log that was brought into the home on the day of the Immaculate Conception, 8th December, and slowly fed into the fire till Christmas Eve. Read more: What to do today? Every night until Christmas Eve they put out water and food for him: perhaps orange peel, potatoes or turron (nougat typically made of honey, sugar, and egg white, mixed with toasted almonds or other nuts). Originally the Caga Tió was just a large log that was brought into the home on the day of the Immaculate Conception, 8th December, and slowly fed into the fire till Christmas Eve. “Caga Tió, caga torró, i si no cagues, et donaré un cop de bastó” [Caga Tió, caga turrón, y si no cagas, te daré un golpe de bastón ] This song ends with a blow of the cane on it, being the perfect time for parents to entertain their children and place small gifts under the blanket. cop de bastó!!!. Caga Tió! Caga tió, caga torró, avellanes i mató, si no cagues bé. Finally the big moment arrives. To begin with the children tap the log quite gently but at the final “Caga Tió” they hit the log really hard and then look under the blanket to see if he has pooped sweets or small presents for them. You can adjust your cookie choices in those tools at any time. Caga Tió - Arts & Entertainment - Manlleu, Cataluna, Spain - 23 … | Travel + Leisure - … You’ll get hit with a stick. The Christmas season is very special in Spain. In the beginning, Caga Tio was just a log that, when burned in the fireplace, provided precious heat and light.Fire to the earth. How To Celebrate Christmas Like A Catalan In Ten Easy Steps Caga tió / Caga Tió ametlles i torró / Almonds and Turrón. Caga Tió, d'avellanes i torró; tan si cagues com sinó et donaré un cop de bastó. The Caga Tió. Fer Cagar el Tío - A Catalan Christmas Tradition - ShBarcelona We celebrated like the locals. Well, first the caga tió, which is also called tió de nadal, is set up in the family home at the start of December, wearing his attire of a traditional red hat and a smiling painted face. In this video the little chap is allowed back several times! Caga Tió: A Catalan Log That Poops Candy At Christmas : The … caga torrons / Poop Turrón que són més bons / which taste better. Translated as: Poop log, poop turrón, hazelnuts and cottage cheese, if you don't poop well, I'll hit you with a stick! 'In this context the word 'tió' in Catalan language means log. That is because the more Caga Tió eats, the more Christmas gifts will be “ pooed-out ”. These small caga tió’s are devouring some grapes before the Big Day. no caguis arangades / Don't poop herrings que són massa salades / those are too salty. We made our own festive poop log. El Tió és una de les meves tradicions preferides ara per Nadal. El Tió … This information is shared with social media, sponsorship, analytics, and other vendors or service providers. This extract is taken from Andorra Revealed, a book jam-packed with details about the country past and present. One goes like this: “Caga Tió, neules i torrons, “Poop Log, neules and turrons, Si no cagues ara … If you don’t poop right now –. Caga Tió - Spain's Pooping Christmas Log! Families in some places of Catalonia, Valencia and Aragon, take care of what is known as a ‘pooping log’. See details. Those accessories have been added only in recent times, altering the more traditional and rough natura… Written by Judith Wood, Ian Woolward and myself and costing 10€ from my garage, it is also available from La Puça bookshop in Andorra la Vella and online from Amazon.co.uk – paperback £8.99, Kindle £4.99. Caga Tió make its appearance every year in Catalan homes on December 8th, and children are in charge to look after this peculiar character. Caga Tió, meaning pooping log, is basically a wooden log dressed up with a face, legs, blanket and a … Adventures in Spain Tuesday, December 6, 2011. It's about a log that poops presents on December 24th. Caga tió / Caga tió ametlles i torró / Almonds and Turrón. Tio de Nadal or Caga Tio - “The Poop Log” Catalunya, Spain. Look for about the author of the blog Clare Allcard, Look here for the whole blog “Cultural events in Andorra with Clare Allcard”, PICK OF THE WEEK: Monday, 18th January – Sunday, 24th January, 2021, PICK OF THE WEEK: Tuesday, 8th December – Monday, 14th December, 2020, PICK OF THE WEEK: Tuesday, 1st December – Sunday, 20th December, 2020, PICK OF THE WEEK: Monday, 23rd November – Sunday, 29th November, 2020, What to do today? Since 2008, she's been eating burnt onions (calçots) and tripping on cobblestones in the Gothic Quarter. Recently, the Tió has come to stand up on two or four stick legs with a broad smiling face painted on its higher end, enhanced by a littler red sock hat (a miniature of the traditional barretina) and often a three-dimensional nose. Help us grow this channel...Please SUBSCRIBEOur first Christmas in Catalonia. (In the Castellano Spanish language 'tio' means 'uncle' or 'guy.') The Caga Tio is a unique Christmas tradition in Catalonia, Spain. Spain might have all other countries beat with the great tradition of caga tió.