It's common in many Catalan families to take a piece of wood 30 cm long home for holidays. The log called Tio de Nadal is placed in the room and a smiling face is drawn on it. Since the Feast of the Immaculate Conception on December 8 the log is given a little bit of food and covered with a blanket to keep it warm. Children are supposed to take good care of it to get a lot of presents.
On Christmas Eve the Tio is asked to defecate, while children are supposed to leave the room and pray asking Tio to deliver presents. When they come back they find presents under the blanket.
Practical info
What is Tió de Nadal?
Tió de Nadal is a log with a friendly face, cared for by Catalan families during Christmas time. It is given food and covered with a blanket from December 8th, with children taking care of it by not hitting it and talking to it. On Christmas Eve, the Tió is beaten to defecate and leave presents under the blanket for the children. Show more
When does the tradition of the Tió de Nadal begin?
Catalan families celebrate the Feast of the Immaculate Conception on December 8th by taking a piece of wood home to create Tió de Nadal. They keep it warm and give it food until Christmas Eve, with children taking care of the log to get presents on Christmas Day. Show more
Where can you buy a piece of wood for the log?
A piece of wood for the Tió de Nadal can be purchased from any local shop, or in tourist spots like La Boqueria, Mercat de Santa Caterina, or Christmas Market in front of the Cathedral of Barcelona. Show more
How do children take care of the Tió de Nadal?
Children take care of the Tió by not hitting its face, giving it food, and covering it with a blanket to keep it warm. As the log is believed to have feeling, children should talk and sing to it. On Christmas Eve, they beat it with sticks asking it to defecate presents and leave the room to return to find presents left under the blanket. Show more
What types of presents are usually found under the blanket on Christmas Eve?
Children typically find small items like nuts, candies, and small toys under the blanket on Christmas Eve. Tió de Nadal rewards children based on how well they treat it. If they take good care of the log, they get better gifts, fostering a culture of generosity and kindness in children. Show more
