bcnEXPAT

Tió - Catalan Christmas tradition!

In early December parents and children set out together to the woods to go and find a Caga Tió, a mystical creature, a living “p**p tree log”.

Kids look behind trees and bushes while constantly calling out for Caga Tió. Some find it there, and some others just find Caga Tió standing in front of the home door.

The poor Tió is freezing and hungry, hence it is taken inside and the children cover it with a blanket to keep him warm.

Tió cannot p**p on an empty stomach. Therefore, every evening the kids feed it with fruits and nuts and give him water.

The better you feed him, the nicer he will be to you on the night of 24.

That night, the children go to a room together and say a poem while the parents and the Tió stay in the living room.

Then the children join them and while nicely hitting the Tió they sing the "Caga"Tió song ( which includes the imperative to p**p and p*e nice things. And then Tió makes his magic!

For sure different Christmas, but still can be a merry one!

Please take care, be responsible and safely gather!