A Christmas dispatch from the hills outside Barcelona, from our friends Katie and Albert:

"The night before Christmas we went to our friends', Marc, Emma , India and baby Iona, house to celebrate a Catalan tradition called “ Caga tió “ which translated would be, “ Shit log “. I know....a little weird, but you know, traditions are traditions. It is actually a cute one especially for the little ones of the house. Here is how it goes. On Christmas eve, one puts the tió (the log) partly into the fireplace and orders it to "shit" (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 "shit", the kids start beating him with sticks, while singing various songs. The tió does leave things like candies, nuts and cheap presents under its blanket witch covers him. Depending on the part of Catalonia, it may also give out dried figs. When nothing is left to "shit", 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. 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. Above you can see the “ TIÓ”. You can buy it or you can just make it.