XMAS IN CATALONIA

CAGA TIÓ The Caga Tió is a log. He has got a face and he’s always smiling. The night before Christmas, children give him some food because he has to have energy to give presents. Then, children hit him with a stick and get their presents.

XMAS DAY The Christmas day is on 25th December. This day the family meets and has dinner together. The typical menu is soup of galets (a special pasta) and turkey, but it depends on the family. The next day, the 26th December, is Saint Steve and it's typical to eat cannelloni with the family too.

The Manger Most people in Catalonia have a manger in their house. In the manger there is the Nativity scene but also shepherds, animals, the Three Wise Men and especially the ‘Caganer’. The ‘Caganer’ was traditionally a figure wearing a red ‘barretina’, white shirt and dark trousers. It is a symbol of good fortune. Nowadays, we can find famous characters represented as ‘Caganers’.

XMAS CAROLS In Catalonia we sing a lot of Xmas carols. They are sung on family dinners or children in a chorus on the streets. They talk about the birth of Jesus and the shepherds seem to sing them. They are oral with some percussion instruments. Some of the most popular in our town are: Santa Nit (Stille Nacht), el Desembre Congelat (Frozen December), Fum, fum, fum, el Rabadà and Les dotze van tocant (midnight falls).

THE THREE WISE MEN The evening of the 5th January there are processions of the Three Wise Men in every town in Catalonia. They throw sweets to the children and they take their letters with the presents they want. That night, children go to bed very early because the next morning they will find some presents. The Three Wise Men come from the East and they give gifts to the children around the world. They ride camels and their names are: Melcior, Gaspar and Baltasar.

NEW YEAR’S EVE This day is to stay with your family. We have dinner together and at 12 o’clock we eat grapes. After the grapes we kiss and hug each other. While the night goes on, we drink some “cava” and some people put their rings in the cup and if you drink it up it can bring luck to you. Other people wear red underwear and then throw it to the banfire late at night to be lucky during the new year.

SOME VIDEOS ABOUT XMAS Xmas in Catalonia: http://es.youtube.com/watch?v=YTXYLwOrgyc   Caga tió: http://es.youtube.com/watch?v=qFXtHrKdKWI