Interesting Global Christmas Traditions
Want to know where
Christmas is celebrated displaying pooping figurines, hiding all the
brooms in the house and riding roller skates to mass?
You've come to the right place. Christmas is celebrated by folks in many parts of the world and so naturally there will be many traditions that are unique to the cultures and humors of their respective homeland. Get ready for a little globe trotting as we hitch a ride to see what Santa discovers when he's out on delivery.
Catalonia is our first stop and the tradition of Tio de Nadal, which means Uncle Christmas Log.
Each family hosts the log beginning at the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, December 8th. the pooping log, is a widespread Christmas tradition in Catalonia. It starts with a hollowed out log, which is propped up on four little leg-like sticks and then painted to have a face. Every night, Tió is “fed” little morsels of food and covered with a blanket so he won't catch a cold.
On Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. Tió is put in the fireplace and ordered to “poop”. He is encouraged by singing songs with catchy lyrics and hit with a stick to speed his digestion.
You've come to the right place. Christmas is celebrated by folks in many parts of the world and so naturally there will be many traditions that are unique to the cultures and humors of their respective homeland. Get ready for a little globe trotting as we hitch a ride to see what Santa discovers when he's out on delivery.
Catalonia is our first stop and the tradition of Tio de Nadal, which means Uncle Christmas Log.
Each family hosts the log beginning at the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, December 8th. the pooping log, is a widespread Christmas tradition in Catalonia. It starts with a hollowed out log, which is propped up on four little leg-like sticks and then painted to have a face. Every night, Tió is “fed” little morsels of food and covered with a blanket so he won't catch a cold.
On Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. Tió is put in the fireplace and ordered to “poop”. He is encouraged by singing songs with catchy lyrics and hit with a stick to speed his digestion.
"Caga tió ~ Poop Uncle Christmas Log!
caga torró ~ Poop turrón (a sugary nougat),
avellanes i mató ~ Hazelnuts and cottage cheese,
si no cagues bé ~ If you don’t poop well,
et daré un cop de bastó. ~ I’ll hit you with a stick.
caga tió!" ~ Poop Uncle Christmas Log!"
The gifts are considered for everyone, but each family member gets to take a turn at putting their hand under the blanket to see what Uncle has to share. When he is done pooping candies, nuts and other goodies, Caga Tió will then
give one last push to reveal an onion, a head of garlic or a salted
herring and you know the fun is done!
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