Caga Tio

Have you heard of the Caga Tio? - a very famous and long-standing tradition here in Catalunya.

Literally translated it means the shitting uncle or mate, but is usually aceite as the shitting log.

Caga Tio arrives in homes on the 8th December and it is the job of the children to look after him, leaving him food and keeping him warm under a blanket.

Then on Christmas Eve they beat the poor old boy with sticks, singing a traditional song, to make him shit presents, presents that were previously hidden under the blanket by the parents.

The gifts from Caga Tio are usually quite small, normally sweets chocolate and Turron, larger gifts usually being given on the day of the 3 kind on the 6 January.