In Catalonia, there is a Christmas tradition called "Caga Tió" where a log called the Tió is decorated and "fed" with food until it magically "shits" or expels presents on Christmas Eve or Day. Children sing songs while sticking the Tió with sticks to help it defecate toys, candy, and other small gifts. The Tió tradition originates from giving thanks to trees and wood in the home and is now commonly celebrated between families and in schools, where classroom Tiós also gift children after being fed and stuck. Towns often have larger community Tiós that children contribute food to in the days leading up to Christmas.

2. HISTORY
 There is a very old Christmas tradition in Catalonia. It’s "Caga Tió" or
"Fer cagar el Tió“ (To make to shit the Tió). It is feed with fruits,
biscuits... Until it “shits”.
 Some time ago, the tió shit only sweets, and Christmas desserts (neules
and torrons). Today, lots of tiós shit bigger presents.
 The tió started with thanks to trees and the wood at homes.

3. WHAT IS IT?
 It’s a log that children stick so as to it shits presents: toys and sweets.
 It’s a decorated log with eyes, nose and mouth. It’s got two legs, a
catalan hat (Barretina) and a blanket.

4. WHEN DO WE CELEBRATE IT?
 It’s celebrated on Christmas Eve. All the family meet to make the Tió
shit: we sing songs, say poems, we explain stories and tales. We have
dinner and all the kids of the family make the Tió shit.
 Some people celebrate it on Christmas Day in the morning before
Christmas lunch.

5. THE TIÓ IN HOMES AND TOWNS
 In lots of villages and towns, there is a big Tió in the middle of the
square some days before Christmas. Children give food to the Tió
during these days. The Tió eats all the food.
 On Christmas Eve all the children stick the Tió and it shits presents for
all of them.

6. THE TIÓ IN HOMES AND TOWNS

7. CHRISTMAS FAIR
 There are fairs in lots of towns some days before Christmas. They sell
all kinds of Christmas decorations, Christmas trees, big and small Tiós,
plants... Some Christmas fairs also sell typical Christmas food.
 Everybody is happy during that days.
 This is a photo of our town’s fair:

8. CHRISTMAS FAIR PICTURES

9. THE TIÓ AT SCHOOL
 Our school has got two Tiós. Teachers place the Tiós in the 1st and 2nd
year corridor and in the nursery hall some days before Christmas.
Children bring food from home and give it to the Tió during these days.
The Tió eats the food all days. On the 21st or 22nd December, all the
nursery kids and the 1st and 2nd year meet in the hall (it’s called magic
room) and make the Tió shit. They take sticks and hit the Tió to make
it shit while singing a typical song. The Tió shits a little present to every
child.

10. THE TIÓ AT SCHOOL

11. THE TIÓ AT SCHOOL

12. THE TIÓ AT SCHOOL

13. THE TIÓ AT SCHOOL

14. SONGS I
 Caga tió
caga torrons
d’avellanes i de pinyó
Si no vols cagar
garrotada va!
Tió, Tió,
caga torrons
dels fins i dels bons
Si no tens més
caga diners,
Si no en tens prous
caga ous.
 Caga tió
ametlles i torró
no caguis arengades
que són massa salades
caga torrons
que són més bons
caga tió
ametlles i torró
si no vols cagar
et donaré un cop de bastó
caga tió!!!

15. SONGS II
BLANES ALFORJA
 Tió, tió,
caga torró,
si no tens massa
caga carbassa
si no tens prou
caga un ou
si no tens més
caga diners
Tió, tió,
caga torró,
si no tens massa
caga carbassa
si no tens prou
caga un ou
si no tens més
caga diners
O SI NO ET DONARE
UN COP DE BASTÓ!
 El dia de Nadal
posarem el porc en sal
la gallina a la pastera,
el pollí a dalt del pi,
toca, toca el violí;
ara passen bous i vaques,
les gallines amb sabates,
gallinons amb sabatons;
el vicari fa torrons,
la guineu els ha tastat,
diu que són un poc salats;
Marieta posa-hi sucre
que seran un poc millors;
torrons d'avellana,
torrons de pinyó,
caga tió,
si no et donaré
un cop de bastó.

16. SONGS III
TARRAGONA
SANTA MARGARIDA DE
MONTBUI
 Caga tió,
pastetes i torró;
caga tió
i pixa vi blanc;
no caguis arengades
que són salades
caga torró,
que és molt millor
sinó et donaré
un cop de bastó.
 Caga tió,
d'avellanes i torró;
pixa vi blanc
de les festes de Nadal.
Ara venen festes
festes glorioses
menjarem conill
i llebres si en tenim.
Caga tió
si no vols cagar
et donaré un cop de
bastó.

17. THE TIÓ STORIES
 We read stories and riddles on Christmas. These are some
examples:

18. THE TIÓ STORIES

19. IMATGES DEL TIÓ

20. THE TIÓ PICTURES

21. THE TIÓ PICTURES

22. THE TIÓ PICTURES