{"id":92164,"date":"2017-12-01T11:47:43","date_gmt":"2017-12-01T10:47:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.shbarcelona.com\/blog\/en\/?p=92164"},"modified":"2017-12-01T11:47:43","modified_gmt":"2017-12-01T10:47:43","slug":"catalan-christmas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.shbarcelona.com\/blog\/en\/catalan-christmas\/","title":{"rendered":"Catalan Christmas Traditions"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Whether you live in Barcelona or you&#8217;re just visiting the city during the holiday season, you&#8217;re probably curious about how the Catalan people celebrate <strong>Christmas. <\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Like in many other aspects of the Catalan <strong>culture,<\/strong>&nbsp;they&#8217;ve got their very&nbsp;own way of celebrating Christmas. From the decorations they put up&nbsp;to the foods they eat and the typical Christmas Day celebration, Christmas in Catalonia is something very special.<\/p>\n<div id=\"metaslider-id-104531\" style=\"max-width: 850px; margin: 0 auto;\" class=\"ml-slider-3-25-2 metaslider metaslider-responsive metaslider-104531 ml-slider\">\n    <div id=\"metaslider_container_104531\">\n        <ul id='metaslider_104531' class='rslides'>\n            <li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.shbarcelona.com\/long-term-rental\" target=\"_self\"><\/a><\/li>\n        <\/ul>\n        \n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">In fact, they have several unique&nbsp;<strong>Christmas traditions<\/strong> that you won&#8217;t find anywhere else in Spain (or in the world for that matter) and some of them are downright bizarre. So what are the <strong>Catalan Christmas traditions<\/strong>?<\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_17 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-grey\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\">Tabla de contenidos<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" style=\"display: none;\"><i class=\"ez-toc-glyphicon ez-toc-icon-toggle\"><\/i><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class=\"ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1\"><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.shbarcelona.com\/blog\/en\/catalan-christmas\/#What-are-some-of-the-Catalan-Christmas-traditions\" title=\"What are some of the Catalan Christmas traditions?\">What are some of the Catalan Christmas traditions?<\/a><ul class=\"ez-toc-list-level-3\"><li class=\"ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.shbarcelona.com\/blog\/en\/catalan-christmas\/#Caga-Tio\" title=\"Caga T\u00edo\">Caga T\u00edo<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.shbarcelona.com\/blog\/en\/catalan-christmas\/#The-Caganer\" title=\"The Caganer\">The Caganer<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.shbarcelona.com\/blog\/en\/catalan-christmas\/#The-Fira-de-Santa-Llucia\" title=\"The Fira de Santa Ll\u00facia\">The Fira de Santa Ll\u00facia<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.shbarcelona.com\/blog\/en\/catalan-christmas\/#Christmas-Day\" title=\"Christmas Day\">Christmas Day<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.shbarcelona.com\/blog\/en\/catalan-christmas\/#Three-Kings-Day\" title=\"Three Kings Day\">Three Kings Day<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: left;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What-are-some-of-the-Catalan-Christmas-traditions\"><\/span>What are some of the Catalan Christmas traditions?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Caga-Tio\"><\/span>Caga T\u00edo<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">One of the most interesting&nbsp;<strong>Catalan <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shbarcelona.com\/blog\/en\/reasons-why-you-should-celebrate-christmas-in-barcelona\/\">Christmas<\/a><\/strong> traditions is, without a doubt, the <strong>Caga T\u00edo<\/strong>. You can find this decoration in practically every Catalan home around the holidays both in large and miniature form.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Basically, it&#8217;s a wooden log with a smiling face painted onto one end. As the Catalan version of Santa Claus, it wears a red hat and brings all the gifts for Christmas.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_92167\" style=\"width: 650px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-92167\" class=\"wp-image-92167 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.shbarcelona.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/en\/2017\/11\/6455179701_b017a12abb_z.jpg\" alt=\"caga tio figures\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\"><p id=\"caption-attachment-92167\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em>Photo via Visualhunt<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Traditionally, the idea is that the children take care of the log until Christmas Eve, covering him with a blanket to keep him warm and feeding him turr\u00f3n, a traditional Spanish Christmas sweet.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">When Christmas comes, the children will beat the log with a stick while singing a traditional song until he &#8220;poops&#8221; out the presents under the blanket,&nbsp;hence the name, <strong>Caga T\u00edo<\/strong> or &#8220;pooping log&#8221; in English. The more the kids take care of him, the more presents he will &#8220;poop out&#8221; at Christmas.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">It might sound like a strange tradition, but the kids love it and the <strong>Caga T\u00edo <\/strong>really&nbsp;is one of the most original and fun&nbsp;<strong>Christmas traditions in Catalonia<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a class=\"fasc-button fasc-size-large fasc-type-flat fasc-rounded-medium ico-fa fasc-ico-before fa-chevron-circle-right\" style=\"background-color: #850909; color: #ffffff;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.shbarcelona.com\/apartments-for-rent\/long-term\">Monthly rentals by ShBarcelona<\/a><\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The-Caganer\"><\/span>The Caganer<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The traditional Catalan nativity scene is never complete without a <strong>caganer.<\/strong> In addition to the normal Mary, Joseph, and three wise men figures, in Catalonia, you will find a little figurine of a man pooping called a &#8220;caganer&#8221; hidden inside the nativity scene.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_92176\" style=\"width: 650px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-92176\" class=\"wp-image-92176 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.shbarcelona.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/en\/2017\/11\/6471841401_60ac551eab_z.jpg\" alt=\"caganer dolls\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\"><p id=\"caption-attachment-92176\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em>Photo via Visualhunt<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The meaning behind the caganer&nbsp;is debated, but the custom has been around in Catalonia since the 18th century and is usually&nbsp;said to symbolize fertility and good fortune, especially for farmers in the coming year.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">You can find the traditional figures &#8211; with their <strong>traditional Catalan hat<\/strong> &#8211; in any Christmas market in Catalonia along with spin-off versions with the faces famous people such as politicians, royalty, and football players.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Related article:&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.shbarcelona.com\/blog\/en\/traditional-catalan-soup-dishes-for-the-winter\/\">Traditional Catalan Soup Dishes for the Winter<\/a>&nbsp;<\/em><\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The-Fira-de-Santa-Llucia\"><\/span>The Fira de Santa Ll\u00facia<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Each year around Christmas time in Barcelona, the <strong>Fira de Santa Ll\u00facia<\/strong> takes place in front of the cathedral in Barcelona.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">It&#8217;s a great place to get into the Christmas spirit, look for the perfect <strong>Christmas tree<\/strong>, and buy decorations (including the Caga T\u00edo and caganers) for your home.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_92174\" style=\"width: 650px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-92174\" class=\"wp-image-92174\" src=\"https:\/\/www.shbarcelona.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/en\/2017\/11\/christmas-2939314_1920-1.jpg\" alt=\"christmas decorations in tree with snow\" width=\"640\" height=\"427\"><p id=\"caption-attachment-92174\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em>Photo via Pixabay<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">This year the Christmas&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.shbarcelona.com\/blog\/en\/christmas-shopping-fira-santa-llucia\/\"><strong>fair<\/strong><\/a> starts on the 24th of November and runs all the way until the 23rd of December.<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Christmas-Day\"><\/span>Christmas Day<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Christmas Day in Catalonia is all about spending time with family and enjoying good food made with traditional <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.shbarcelona.com\/blog\/en\/spanish-recipes-christmas-log\/\">recipes<\/a>.<\/strong> The main Christmas dish is <strong>escudella&nbsp;i carn d&#8217;olla<\/strong>,&nbsp;a traditional Catalan stew made with big pasta shells filled with meat.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_92165\" style=\"width: 650px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-92165\" class=\"wp-image-92165\" src=\"https:\/\/www.shbarcelona.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/en\/2017\/11\/christmas-bulbs-2957820_1920.jpg\" alt=\"red balls in christmas tree\" width=\"640\" height=\"427\"><p id=\"caption-attachment-92165\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em>Photo via Pixabay<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">People usually drink Cava, the Catalan sparkling wine, and eat sweets like turr\u00f3n. On the day after Christmas, the traditional meal is <strong>cannelloni<\/strong> made with leftovers from the stew and covered in a b\u00e9chamel sauce and cheese.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">These two days are a time for celebrating at home and spending time with family.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em style=\"text-align: center;\">Related article: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shbarcelona.com\/blog\/en\/a-catalan-christmas\/\">A Catalan Christmas in Barcelona<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Three-Kings-Day\"><\/span>Three Kings Day<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Finally, on January 6th, the big gift-giving day is celebrated in Catalonia and the rest of Spain. It&#8217;s known as the <strong>Three Kings Day<\/strong> and this is when the children receive most of their Christmas presents.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_92177\" style=\"width: 650px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-92177\" class=\"wp-image-92177\" src=\"https:\/\/www.shbarcelona.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/en\/2017\/11\/christmas-934177_1920.jpg\" alt=\"three saints\" width=\"640\" height=\"299\"><p id=\"caption-attachment-92177\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em>Photo via Pixabay<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">On the 5th of January, the day before the kings give out the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shbarcelona.com\/blog\/en\/some-ideas-for-original-christmas-gifts\/\"><strong>gifts<\/strong><\/a>, you can see them in processions in the streets all around Spain.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">At night, the children leave out some food and drinks for the kings and their camels, patiently waiting for them to come with the gifts.<\/p>\n<div class=\"page\" title=\"Page 2\">\n<div class=\"section\">\n<div class=\"layoutArea\">\n<div class=\"column\">\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a class=\"fasc-button fasc-size-large fasc-type-flat fasc-rounded-medium ico-fa fasc-ico-before fa-chevron-circle-right\" style=\"background-color: #850909; color: #ffffff;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.shbarcelona.com\/apartments-for-rent\/long-term\">Move to Barcelona for a couple of months?<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>What Catalan culture and traditions do you enjoy most?<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong>Tell us more about the time you spent Christmas in Barcelona!<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Whether you live in Barcelona or you&#8217;re just visiting the city during the holiday season, you&#8217;re probably curious about how the Catalan people celebrate Christmas. Like in many other aspects of the Catalan culture,&nbsp;they&#8217;ve got their very&nbsp;own way of celebrating Christmas. From the decorations they put up&nbsp;to the foods they eat and the typical Christmas [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":129,"featured_media":558594,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[52590],"tags":[367,56684,57136,57150],"class_list":["post-92164","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-traditional-festivals","tag-barcelona-christmas","tag-catalan-christmas-traditions","tag-christmas","tag-christmas-in-catalonia"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shbarcelona.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/92164","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shbarcelona.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shbarcelona.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shbarcelona.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/129"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shbarcelona.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=92164"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.shbarcelona.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/92164\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shbarcelona.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/558594"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shbarcelona.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=92164"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shbarcelona.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=92164"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shbarcelona.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=92164"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}