Published in Catalonia Today magazine - December 2012
Reus, December, 2012 - Photo: Elisabeth Magre
For every child (and many adults too), December might be the best month of the year. Christmas means celebration and family reunions. Around the world, Father Christmas visits homes to reward boys and girls with presents. Actually, not every home. Catalonia is not generally on Santa’s route, because there is another guy in charge. He’s called the Tió de Nadal, or Christmas Log. Popularly called Caga tió (crapping log), it is a character in Catalan mythology related to a widespread Christmas tradition. Beginning with the Feast of the Immaculate Conception (December 8), one gives the tió a little to 'eat' every night and he is usually covered with a little blanket so that he won’t get cold.
On Christmas day or, depending on the particular household, on Christmas Eve, one puts the tió partly into the fireplace and orders it to 'crap' (the fireplace element of this tradition is no longer as widespread as it once was, since many modern homes do not have one). To make him 'crap', one beats him with sticks, while singing various songs about the Tió de Nadal.
The tió does not drop larger gifts, as those are usually brought by the Three Wise Men. What he does leave are sweets, nuts and torrons. Depending on the part of Catalonia,he may also give out dried figs. When nothing is left to 'crap', he drops a salted herring, a head of garlic, an onion or even 'urinates'. What comes out of the tió is a communal rather than an individual gift, shared by everyone present.
The Tió is not as glamorous as Father Christmas, but Catalan kids love it. Merry Christmas!
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