The
CAGA TIÓ

Normally, December 6th marks the beginning of the Christmas season in many countries. While it even reaches its peak in the Netherlands, it doesn’t hold much significance here in Catalonia: December 6th comes and goes without noteworthy events.

However, the Catalan pre-Christmas season begins two days later, on December 8th, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. From now on, the Christmas markets officially open, and the Christmas lights in the streets of Barcelona are plugged in.

But this day is even more important for the children: Because now a very special tradition begins. The Caga Tió arrives!

The Tió de Nadal, or Caga Tió as it is called (Pooping Uncle), is sought and has to be fed! To do this, families go into the forest on weekends to find the tree trunk (previously placed there by the parents) with a smiling face, two legs, and a red hat (barretina).
This is then taken home, fed, and cared for. It is also covered with a blanket to keep it cozy.

But on December 24th, it’s time. The little log is no longer cared for but beaten with a stick! Because it’s supposed to “poop out” (cagar) the gifts (which the parents placed under the blanket)…

While hitting the blanket, a song is always sung:
Here’s one of the possible songs: (Source + Translation: Wikipedia)

In Catalan:

Caga tió,
d’avellanes i de pinyó
pixa vi blanc
de les festes de Nadal.
ara vénen festes,
festes glorioses
menjarem conill
i llebres si en tenim.
Caga tió
caga tió
si no vols cagar,
et donaré un cop de bastó.

In English:

Caga Tió,
made of hazelnuts and pine nuts,
piss white wine
for the Christmas festivities.
Now come the holidays,
glorious holidays,
we’ll eat rabbit
and hares if we have them.
Caga Tió,
Caga Tió,
if you don’t want to poop,
I’ll give you a whack with a stick.

Christmas lights
What to do in BCN?

1. Christmas Lights Bus Tour

In the last 2 years, the Barcelona Tourism Office (TMB/Bus Turistic) and the ticket agency Tiqets have come up with something special. Together with the Bus Touristic, they offer two special evening tours daily from November 25 to December 31, during which you can admire the city’s Christmas street decorations. The major streets of Barcelona are beautifully adorned, with Passeig de Gracia being particularly outstanding.

Times: Departure at 18:30 + 20:30 h
Duration: 1.5 hours
Price: 15 Euros

Here is my detailed report! My kids loved it! But it is sold out very quick!

2. Els llums de Sant Pau

The Hospital de Sant Pau hosts a small light festival on its premises every year. The individual pavilions, trees, and bushes are beautifully (and colorfully) decorated, almost as if you were at the North Pole with Santa Claus – but without snow, of course 😉

Duration: 21 November 2024 – 12 January 2025
Daily from 6:00 PM to 10:30 PM (except December 24 and December 31, 2023)
Price: EUR 15 for adults, EUR 13 for children between 4 and 18 years old
At Tiqets unfortunately 3 Euro more expensive – but you would then support the work on our site! 🙏

Again: my kids loved it! 

Here is our report and Video!

3. Facade of the Casa Batlló

The Casa Batlló is also illuminated: from November 17th, 2024 util January 24th, 2025.
Times:
Sunday to Thursday, every hour, first pass at 6:30 p.m. and the last at 9:30 p.m.
Friday and Saturday, every hour, between 6:30 p.m. and 11:00 p.m.
This is, of course, free of charge.

The Casa Batlló can be visited during Christmas as follows:
December 24th: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
December 25th: 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM
December 26th: 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM

4. Ice Skating Rink

Every year, there is an ice skating rink on the centrally located Plaça de Catalunya. We still have to go and provide you with some pictures!

5. Christmas Lottery “Lotería de Navidad”

Catalans are particularly fond of gambling during Christmas! Friend groups, colleagues, or families buy one or more lottery tickets (yes, I’ve done that too) and hope for the “big bucks” on December 22nd when “la Grossa” is drawn, represented by a round, blonde woman. This jackpot is usually worth several million. She is also back for New Years Eve!

NEW YEAR'S EVE IN BARCELONA
PROBABLY NOT...?

If you love the German-style New Year’s Eve celebrations with fireworks, firecrackers, and street parties, you’ll be disappointed here. But if you want to escape all of that, then you’re in the right place.

Out on the streets here, nothing much happens! No crowds, no fireworks. You’re not allowed to set off firecrackers (except for Sant Juan in June).

There is an official city fireworks display, and there are concerts here and there, but in reality, people spend New Year’s Eve with their families and eat grapes at midnight. After that, young people may go to the city’s clubs to party, but at midnight – yes, you heard that right – they eat grapes. Precisely 12 grapes, one for each chime of the clock. You can buy them normally or in cans, pre-counted, pitted, and pickled in their own juice – ready to eat.

This is believed to bring luck for the next year! Just like the red underwear that is traditionally worn here on New Year’s Eve…

But be careful:

Children should probably not do this, or the grapes should be halved beforehand – accidents happen all too often.