Tio de Nadal

Tió

Tio de Nadal ( Kagatio , or simply Tio , Spanish: Tió de Nadal "Christmas log") - Aragonese and Catalan Christmas tradition, prevalent primarily in Catalonia , Aragon , Occitania , as well as in neighboring Andorra ^[1] .

In the past, “kagatio” (literally “pooping logs”) was an ordinary log that was burned in houses and which gave the inhabitants light and warmth, the most important feeling of a holiday. And the ash from the burned log was used as protection from lightning, insects, etc.

Tio de Nadal - Christmas log - this is a hollow inside a stump or an ordinary log, with two or four wooden legs and with a painted smiling muzzle. Typically, they put on a typical Catalan hat called Barretin on Tio, and also cover it with a blanket so that it is not cold. Tio de Nadal is a tradition, one of the most popular among children, because Tio de Nadal "poops" Christmas presents and sweets.

December 8, the day of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary of Tio begin to "feed". In front of him they put the dishes where they put everything that animals eat - peeling from fruits and from potatoes, shells from nuts, eggs, etc. And on the Christmas evening on December 24, they begin to beat Tio with sticks, twigs, and even wooden spoons, thereby forcing his "poop" gifts.

Tio never “pops out” large gifts (they are brought by Papa Noel - Spanish Santa Claus or Magic Kings - Christmas Magi), only baubles, waffles, halva for children - all those sweets without which any Christmas is unthinkable. Usually beating is accompanied by songs similar to:

Cocoa, Cocoa
log of christmas
Don’t bother her -
She is tasteless.
A better candy
and even nougat
They are sweet and we will eat them
all to one.

These songs are countless. Having sung a song and beat Tio de Nadal well, the children look under the covers to see what he “popped”. The secret is that between songs the children go to another room to pray or just “rehearse” new songs, which gives parents a great opportunity to put new gifts under Tio's blanket each time. This continues several times until Tio “poops” the onion or head of garlic, or “pees” with water on the floor.