24/12/2025
In Catalunya we celebrate Tió de Nadal – a smiling wooden log that children “adopt” in early December. They feed it a little food each night and keep it warm under a blanket so that, on Christmas, it’s ready to “poop” sweets and small gifts.
This tradition comes from old rural, pre-Christian customs linked to the winter solstice, when a special log was burned in the fireplace to bring warmth, protection and good fortune for the year ahead. In some homes its ashes were even spread on the fields for fertility.
Today, the Tió wears a red barretina, a painted smile and becomes the star of Christmas for Catalan children. They hit it gently with sticks while singing ... until, like magic, sweets, turrón and little surprises appear under the blanket.
If you visit the Costa Brava at Christmas, you’re almost guaranteed to meet one of these cheerful logs – and maybe even help the kids “wake it up” for presents!