| Catalan /Valenciancultural domain |
|---|
 contemporary Tió Photograph of a typical contemporary Tió |
Language |
Government and politics |
Music and performing arts |
Sport |
TheTió de Nadal (Catalan pronunciation:[tiˈoðənəˈðal]; 'Christmas Log'), also known simply astió ('log'),soca ortronc(a) ('trunk'), is a character inCatalan mythology relating to aChristmas tradition practiced inCatalonia,Valencia (occasionally),Majorca (known asNadaler[1]),Aragon,Occitania andAndorra. InAragon it is also called, inAragonese,Tizón de Nadal,Toza de Nadal orTronca de Nadal.[2]
TheTió de Nadal is related to the tradition of the GermanicChristmas tree, also a bearer of gifts for the little ones, and with the BritishYule log (tizón do Nadal inGalicia andCachafuòc,Cachofio orSoc de Nadal inOccitania[3]).
The form of theTió de Nadal found in many Catalan homes during the holiday season is a hollow log about 30 cm (12 in) long. Recently, theTió has come to stand up on two or four stick legs with a broad smiling face painted on its higher end, enhanced by a red sock hat (a miniature of the traditionalbarretina) and often a three-dimensional nose. Those accessories have been added only in recent times, altering the more traditional and rough natural appearance of a piece of wood.
Beginning with the Feast of theImmaculate Conception (December 8), one gives thetió a little bit to "eat" every night and usually covers him with a blanket so that he will not be cold. The story goes that in the days preceding Christmas, children must take good care of the log, keeping it warm and feeding it, so that it willdefecate presents on Christmas Day or Eve.[4]
On Christmas Day or, in some households, onChristmas Eve, one puts thetió partly into thefireplace and orders it todefecate. The fire part of this tradition is no longer as widespread as it once was, since many modern homes do not have a fireplace. To make it defecate, one beats thetió with sticks, while singing various songs ofTió de Nadal.
The tradition says that before beating thetió all of the children must leave the room and go to another part of the house to pray, asking for thetió to deliver a lot of presents. Nowadays, the praying tradition has been left behind. Still, children go to a different room, usually the kitchen, to warm their stick next to a fire.
Thetió does not drop larger objects, as those are considered to be brought by theThree Wise Men. It does leave candies, nuts,torrons, and small toys. Depending on the region of Catalonia, it may also give out dried figs. What comes out of theTió is a communal rather than individual gift, shared by everyone there.
Thetió is often popularly calledCaga tió ("shitting log", "poo log").[5][6] This derives from the many songs ofTió de Nadal that begin with this phrase, which was originally (in the context of the songs) an imperative ("Shit, log!"). The use of this expression as a name is not believed to be part of the ancient tradition and its use is discouraged.[7]
A song is sung during this celebration. After hitting thetió softly with a stick during the song, it is hit harder on the wordsCaga tió! Then somebody puts their hand under the blanket and takes a gift. The gift is opened and then the song begins again. There are manyCaga tió songs connected to the holiday and the log. The following variant[8] is one of the more popular versions of this song:
| Catalan Caga tió, avellanes i torró, no caguis arengades que són massa salades, caga torrons que són més bons. Caga tió, ametlles i torró, i, si no vols cagar, et donaré un cop de bastó! Caga tió! | English Shit, tió, hazelnuts and nougats, do not shit herrings, for they are too salty, shit nougats for they taste better. Shit, tió, almonds and nougats, and if you don't want to shit I will hit you with a stick! Shit, tió! |
Media related toTió de Nadal at Wikimedia Commons