Tió de Nadal

The ''Tió de Nadal'' (; meaning in English "Christmas Log"), also known simply as ''tió'' (firewood log), soca or tronc(a) (trunk), is a character in Catalan mythology relating to a Christmas tradition widespread in Catalonia, Majorca (known as ''Nadaler''), Occitania (Southern France) and Andorra. In Aragon it is also called, in aragonese, ''Tizón de Nadal'', ''Toza de Nadal'' or ''Tronca de Nadal''.

The ''Tió de Nadal'' is related to the tradition of the germanic Christmas tree, also a bearer of gifts for the little ones, and with the british Yule log (''tizón do Nadal in Galicia'' and ''Cachafuòc'', ''Cachofio'' or ''Soc de Nadal in Occitania'').

Overview

The form of the ''Tió de Nadal'' found in many Catalan homes during the holiday season is a hollow log about long. Recently, the ''Tió'' has come to stand up on two or four stick legs with a broad smiling face painted on its higher end, enhanced by a littler red sock hat (a miniature of the traditional barretina) 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 dead piece of wood.

Beginning with the Feast of the Immaculate Conception (December 8), one gives the ''tió'' 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 will defecate presents on Christmas Day or Eve.

On Christmas Day or, in some households, on Christmas Eve, one puts the ''tió'' partly into the fireplace and orders it to defecate. 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 the ''tió'' with sticks, while singing various songs of ''Tió de Nadal''.

The tradition says that before beating the ''tió'' all the kids have to leave the room and go to another place of the house to pray, asking for the ''tió'' 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. This makes the perfect excuse for the relatives to do the trick and put the presents under the blanket while the kids are praying or warming their sticks.

The ''tió'' does not drop larger objects, as those are considered to be brought by the Three Wise Men. It does leave candies, nuts and ''torrons'', and small toys. Depending on the region of Catalonia, it may also give out dried figs. What comes out of the ''Tió'' is a communal rather than individual gift, shared by everyone there.

The ''tió'' is often popularly called ''Caga tió'' ("shitting log", "poo log"). This derives from the many songs of ''Tió 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.

''Caga tió'' song

A song is sung during this celebration. After hitting the ''tió'' softly with a stick during the song, it is hit harder on the words ''Caga 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 many ''Caga tió'' songs connected to the holiday and the log. The following variant is one of the more popular versions of this song:

See also

* Bûche de Noël
* Caganer
* Piñata
* Yule log

References

External links

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Tio De Nadal
Catalan folklore
Catalan mythology
Catalan words and phrases
Christmas characters
Christmas in Spain
Christmas gift-bringers