Tió de Nadal

The Caga Tió or Tió de Nadal is a Christmas Yule Log specific to Catalunya and Aragon. Translated from Catalan, Caga Tió means, “shitting log”. I believe El Tió predates the introduction of Father Christmas to Cataluña and he performs a similar function, bringing gifts on Christmas Eve, though only small items, as larger presents arrive on Kings Day (the arrival of the Three Wise Men – January 6th).

Traditionally families search for a suitable log at the beginning of December, which they decorate with a face and a little red hat (barretina). From the Immaculate Conception (December 8th) onwards, el Tió should be fed a little each evening and covered with a blanket to keep him warm. On Christmas Eve, children beat the log with a stick and sing this song:

“Caga tió, caga torró,
avellanes i mató,
si no cagues bé
et daré un cop de bastó.
caga tió!”

“Shit, log, shit nougat (turrón),
hazelnuts and mató cheese,
if you don’t shit well,
I’ll hit you with a stick,
shit, log!”

Parents and relatives hide small presents under the log’s blanket and when the children beat him with a stick, el Tió appears to shit them out. I believe that naughty children may receive a piece of coal instead of turrón. See this video.

christmas market

Wishing to bring you something unusual, Catalan, Christmassy and edible, I scoured the Christmas Market to no avail.

la paradeta del tió

There were plenty of wooden Tiós for those who don’t have time to find and decorate a log, but nothing edible.

la boqueria en la nit

I got lucky one evening at the front of the Boqueria, which is a part I normally avoid because it’s expensive and mostly of interest to tourists only.

vidal pons

Vidal Pons sell lots of sticky sweets

caramel

and next to Father Christmas

basket of tió

was a basket of Caga Tiós.

Alternate verses to the Caga Tió song:

“Caga tió, tió de Nadal,
no caguis arengades,
que són massa salades
caga torrons
que són més bons!”

“Shit, log, log of Christmas,
don’t shit herrings,
they are too salty,
shit nougats (turrón)
they are much better!”

“Tronca de Nadal, Caga torrons,
pixa vi blanc,
no caguis arengades,
que són massa salades
caga torrons
que són més bons!”

“Log of Christmas, shit nougats,
pee white wine,
don’t shit herrings,
they are too salty,
shit nougats (turrón)
they are much better!”

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Menja bé, caga fort i no tinguis por a la mort – Eat well, shit hard and don’t fear death.