Arcadia Spain

For those who never hear about the Catalan tradition of Caga Tió it can sound a bit weird and at the same time funny, but it is real and it has an ancient history.

But, what is Caga Tió?

The literally meaning of it is the Pooping Uncle and it is originally a log that burned in the fireplace  giving  warmth and light on cold winter nights.

Nowadays the meaning is more materialist and a bit different because we don’t use fire pit in our houses. It is a trunk with a smiley face painted and two front sticks (his legs), wearing a Catalan hat and covered by a blanket to protect him for the cold weather.

The tradition says Caga Tió arrives at the beginning of December to all Catalan houses. Children have to take care of it, feeding with some fruits and sweets because the more the Caga Tió eats, the more gifts he will poop.

Then at the Christmas Eve at night, before dinner, or during the Christmas Day families make the Caga Tió poop by hitting it while they are singing a traditional song. Just before hitting the Caga Tió, children are instructed to go out of the room. Then it is the moment when parents have the opportunity to hide the little gifts beneath the Caga Tió. When children come back to the main room, where the Caga Tió is, they start to sing a song and hit it with a stick. It becomes so fascinating to raise the blanket and see that the log has poop presents! See this homemade video to get a better idea.

Do you want to learn the song of Caga Tió? A common Catalan version of it goes along the lines of:

Poop, log,
poop nougats (turrón),
hazelnuts and mató cheese,
if you don’t poop well,
I’ll hit you with a stick,
poop, log!

Another version is:

Log of Christmas,
poop nougats,
pee white wine,
don’t poop herrings,
they are too salty,
poop nougats (turrón)
they are much better!

They enjoy a lot because can scream and hit as much as they want, it is a fun Christmas play for them.

Our Caga Tió will arrive on December 6^th at Arcadia Center. Students, get ready to feet him so he can poop a lot of presents on December 14 during our Farewell Fiesta!