What is a Tió gegant? Catalan Christmas log in giant version

What is a Tió gegant?

barcelona_christmas_tio_gegant


'Tió gegant' is a giant version of the Christmas Caga Tió log. Tió de Nadal - Caga Tió is the name of the Catalan 'Christmas log' tradition. The 'Tió gegant' is only used when a big Caga Tió log is used, typically at a public event.

What does Tió gegant mean?

'Tió gegant' means a 'giant' caga Caga Tió log. This name is used when a big Caga Tió log is used, usually at a public Christmas event for Children.

A popular Christmas tradition in Barcelona and the Catalonia province of Spain is the 'Tió de Nadal' also called the 'Caga tió.'

In this context the word 'tió' in Catalan language means log. In the Castellano Spanish language 'tio' means 'uncle' or 'guy.'

So Tió de Nadal in Catalan means Christmas log or tree trunk - and not Uncle Christmas or Christmas guy.

What does Caga Tió mean?


Caga Tió means 'Poop log!' Yes, that's right. Caga Tió is a Christmas log that poos Christmas presents. You can buy them all over Barcelona and Catalonia in supermarkets and Christmas markets.

'Tió gegant' means a 'giant' caga Caga Tió log. This name is used when a big Caga Tió log is used at a bigger event.

At Barcelona's biggest Christmas market, the Santa Llúcia market in the gothic area, you can also see a giant Tió de Nadal, which poops out candy and sweets on stage for children under 12 years of age.

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What does the Catalan Christmas pooing log look like?

The 'Tió de Nadal' Christmas log is a log or tree stump standing on wooden stick legs. 

It has a very happy face painted at one end and it wears a red Catalan 'barretina' hat. The Caga Tió has a blanket to keep it warm at night.

You can buy a Tió de Nadal in all sizes at Catalan Christmas markets.

Caga Tio


What is the Caga Tió tradition and why is it called a poop log?

It works like this. Caga Tió is a Christmas log which is 'fed' sweets and candy and pampered and cared for by children from the 8th December, which is the Feast of Immaculate Conception, 'Dia de la Immaculada Concepció' until Christmas Eve on 24th December.

As Christmas gets closer the parents sometimes even replace the Tió de Nadal logs with bigger versions to make the children think that the log has grown after being fed by the children.

The children believe the better they care for the Caga Tió log and the bigger it grows and the bigger the presents will be at Christmas.

Then on Christmas Eve the Caga Tió log is put very close to the fireplace. The children sing the “Caga Tió” song to get the log to 'poo' some presents. While they are singing the children whip the log with a stick.

The Caga Tió song ends with a final load cry of “Caga Tió!”  which is the imperative tense of the verb 'defacate' so it literally this is a command to the log to poo!

After singing and whipping the Christmas log the children leave the room to pray for presents which gives the parents an opportunity to put presents into the hollow log or under the blanket (most Caga Tió logs these days are not hollow.)

Then the children come and get the pooped out presents, which the log has pooped! When the log has nothing left to poop, it finishes the deed with a salt herring, a head of garlic, an onion, or it 'urinates' by leaving a bowl of water. 

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Generally these days the presents pooped out by the log are candy, sweets and the famous Spanish/Catalan turrón nougat and maybe one real gift.

The bulk of Christmas presents for children in Spain come on 6th January with arrival of the Three Kings on Kings Day on 6th January - and not by Santa on Christmas Day.

The Caga Tió are generally regarding as communal gifts to be shared by everyone. After the log has finished crapping presents, if you have a fireplace, you can burn the “Tió" log afterwards.

However most families keep their Caga Tió  for next year as fireplaces are rare in modern times.

The Caga Tió is a tradition with century old origins back to the days when the fireplace was a central and important part of family life. The ashes of the burnt log were kept and spread by crops and near the stable and even on the beds as a rite to promote fertility.

American comedian and actress Kate McKinnon explains on Late Night with Seth Myers how she adopted the Catalan Poop Log Christmas Tradition



Caga tió song - Catalan and English lyrics

Caga tió,
Caga torró,
Avellanes i mató,
Si no cagues bé
Et daré un cop de bastó.
Caga tió!

English translation Caga tió Christmas song

Shit, log,
Shit nougats (turrón),
Hazelnuts and mató cheese,
If you don't shit well,
I'll hit you with a stick,
Shit, log!

Another less popular version:

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,
Which are too salty,
Shit nougats (turrón)
Which are much better!


Where to buy a Christmas "Caga Tió" in Barcelona?
You can buy Caga Tio logs in all sizes at Barcelona Christmas markets and at supermarkets too.
Guide Barcelona Christmas

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Last Updated on Saturday, 02 December 2023 17:21
 
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Sunday, 22 December 2024


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