Caga Tio by jeroni

Photography • World Events/Social Commentary • posted on Dec 25, 2008

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Description

The Tió de Nadal (roughly "Christmas Log"), also known as "Tió" (trunk or log, a big piece of cut wood) or "Tronca" ("log") and popularly called "Caga tió" (pooping log in English), is a character in Catalan mythology relating to a Christmas tradition widespread in Catalonia. A similar tradition exists in other places such as the cachafuòc or soc de Nadal in Occitania, or the Tizón de Nadal or Tronca de Nabidá in Aragon. The form of the tió de Nadal found in many Catalan homes during the holiday season is a hollow log of about thirty centimetres length. Recently, the tió has come to stand up on two or four little stick legs with a broad smiling face painted on the higher of the two ends, enhanced by a little red sock hat (a miniature of the traditional Catalan 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. The Catalan word tió (log) is unrelated to the Spanish word tío. 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 little blanket so that he will not be cold at night. On Christmas day or, depending on the particular household, on Christmas Eve, one puts the tió partly into the fireplace and orders it to "poop" (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 him "poop", one beats him with sticks, while singing various songs of Tió de Nadal. The tió does not drop larger objects, as those are brought by the Three Wise Men. It does leave candies, nuts and torrons. Depending on the part of Catalonia, it may also give out dried figs. When nothing is left to "poop", it drops a salt herring, a head of garlic, an onion or "urinates". What comes out of the tió is a communal rather than individual gift, shared by everyone present. Beating the Tió de Nadal In addition to the names listed in the opening paragraph, the additional nickname "Caga Tió" ("pooping log")[1] 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 ("Poop, log"). The use of this expression as a name is not believed to be part of the ancient tradition. The tradition of the tió could be related to that of the Christmas tree. Here is a song of the "caga tió": caga tió, caga torró, avellanes i mató, si no cagues bé et daré un cop de bastó. caga tió!" poop log, poop turrón, hazelnuts and cottage cheese, if you don't poop well, I'll hit you with a stick, poop log! An alternate version goes something like this: caga tió, tió de Nadal, no caguis arengades, que són massa salades caga torrons que són més bons!" poop log, log of Christmas, don't poop herrings, which are too much salty, poop turrón which is much better! After hitting it softly with a stick during the song it is hit harder on the words "caga tió!". Then somebody puts his hand under the blanket and takes a gift. The gift is opened and then the song begins again. There are many such songs: these are just examples. --------------------------------------------------- Gracias por su comentarios en mi imagen de ayer:

Belen III

Comments (31)

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Darkwish

4:43AM | Thu, 25 December 2008

Great idea! Very well done!

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adrie

4:45AM | Thu, 25 December 2008

Excellent capture well done.

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fredster66

4:54AM | Thu, 25 December 2008

Merry Christmas. Very nice photo!

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Mondwin

5:25AM | Thu, 25 December 2008

Original and splendid shot dear Friend...bravissimo!V:DDD.Hugsxx Whylma.Merry Chrsitmas You tooooooooooooo

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lyron

5:41AM | Thu, 25 December 2008

Fantastica foto y explicación!!!!

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flora-crassella

5:45AM | Thu, 25 December 2008

very nice photo!

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RodolfoCiminelli

7:38AM | Thu, 25 December 2008

Excelente toma fotográfica Jeroni, tiene un muy buen punto de vista.....!!!!!

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magnus073

8:32AM | Thu, 25 December 2008

Jeroni este es realmente una idea de diversión para una foto mi amigo. Nunca he visto este carácter antes y pienso que es grande.

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Faemike55

9:28AM | Thu, 25 December 2008

Great photo and very interesting custom. Merry Christmas

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timtripp

9:52AM | Thu, 25 December 2008

marvelous tradition. merry christmas.

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bentchick

9:54AM | Thu, 25 December 2008

Have a beautiful day and God Bless you and yours!

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MagikUnicorn

11:11AM | Thu, 25 December 2008

COOOOOOOOOOOOOL :)

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SSoffia

12:02PM | Thu, 25 December 2008

TIERNA CAPTURA Y COLOR :) FELIZ NAVIDAD :)

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carlx

12:39PM | Thu, 25 December 2008

Excellent composition!!! Merry Christmas to You and Yours, too!!!

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Kaartijer

12:47PM | Thu, 25 December 2008

Interesting story, great shot!

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tofi

12:53PM | Thu, 25 December 2008

A lovely composition! So cute and so festive! :) Makes me think of a deep n dark chocolate Log Cake! Hmmm... this is how I know X Mas has finally arrived! :) Hope your day is filled with love, and peace! :)

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