No wonder many visitors keep asking what all this is about. It´s our pleassure to tell you a bit about this fantastic tradition we ñpve in Catalonya for December 24th eve.
A few weeks prior this Xmas date, families collect and pick a mid-sice tree trunk and carry it home. Since then, this tree trunk becomes a family member -:), and it´s called ¨Tió¨
The traditions makes kids and all family members feed well ¨tió¨ every evening until December 24th eve when it´s covered with a warm blanket, starting thus the best fan part:
While children and babies hit ¨tió¨ with a wood stick, a very typical popular son is chanted out. Among the many versions of this son, the most common and well known reads:
Caga Tió, neules i torrons, sinó cagues ara … ¡cop de bastó!
Caga Tió, Tió de Nadal, no caguis arengades que són molt salades
Caga torrons que són més bons
Sinó cagues torrons … cop de bastó, cop de bastó
¡Cop – de – bastó!
Caga Tió, neules i torrons, d’aquells bastons
I un confit de tan en tan
Once the song is over, children right away put their hands under the blanket and BINGO…. there are the GIFTS & TREATS… This moment may last, depending how well you have fed ¨tió¨, about a couple of hours. Once ¨tió¨ has been assisted to ¨shit¨ and realease every gift, children go to sleep happy and nervous awaiting the arrival of Santa Claus -:)
Traditionally, once upon a time, when the ceremony was finished, ¨tío¨ was burnt at home fireplace giving away light and heat.
This is a very funny catalonian family tradition, specially for kids.
Here we post some pictures to illustrate ¨tió¨
In all traditional Xmas local markets in Catalunya, you can find ¨Tiós¨ in miniature as sourvenirs.