1. Where do you come from, Tió? What is your origin and how long have you been part of households?
I come from an ancient time, when people lived mainly from the land and fire was the center of the home. My origins date back to winter solstice celebrations, long before Christmas as we know it today, when a log was burned in the hearth to bring warmth and light during the coldest months.
In Catalonia, and also in some areas of Aragon, this tradition was already deeply rooted between the 17th and 18th centuries. At that time, the Christmas log did not bring grand gifts, but simple sweets like ‘neules’ or ‘turrons’, or treats especially for children.
Over time, the tradition has evolved to become a celebration primarily for the little ones. Today, according to current custom, starting from the Day of the Immaculate Conception, December 8th, I enter homes, I am fed, and covered with a blanket so I don’t get cold.
And so, on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, I transform into a somewhat magical log that “poops” sweets and small gifts, but without ever losing what I have represented from the beginning: the warmth of the home, generosity, and the act of sharing with family.
2. Why is it so important for children to feed you before Christmas? What does this gesture symbolize?
Children feeding me is a way of caring for me and creating a bond. It comes from a very old tradition, when it was believed that the Christmas log was alive and needed to be treated with respect. Feeding me means preparing me for Christmas Eve, but also learning to care for others.
This gesture symbolizes generosity and anticipation. For a few days, children think of me, feed me, and cover me so I don’t get cold, without expecting anything in immediate return. And in the end, on Christmas Eve, all this time of attention and patience transforms into a shared celebration, full of joy, sweets, and small gifts.
3. Throughout the territory, you are made to “poop” with different songs. How do you explain this diversity of melodies and lyrics?
Each town has made me a little bit their own, which is why I am not sung to in the same way everywhere. The songs have been passed down from generation to generation and have adapted to the dialect and customs of each area.
In many places in Catalonia, the most well-known version is sung, which says: “Caga tió, ametlles i torró, no caguis arengades que són massa salades” (Poop, Tió, almonds and nougat, don’t poop herrings, they are too salty). In contrast, in other areas, variants like “Caga tió, de mel i de mató” (Poop, Tió, honey and fresh cheese) are sung, with slightly different lyrics but the same spirit.
In Aragon, the song even changes language and melody, but the meaning is the same: to bring the family together, sing along, and experience the moment with joy. This diversity means that each home and each territory has its own way of making me “poop.”
4. As you said, you used to “poop” ‘neules’, ‘turrons’, and treats, and today often toys or more elaborate gifts. How do you explain this evolution over time?
For many years, Christmas gifts were simple because life was also simple. The Tió mainly “pooped” sweets and typical foods of the time, which were a small luxury for many families. Big gifts arrived later, on Three Kings’ Day, or simply did not exist.
Over time, the way Christmas is experienced has changed, and homes have also adapted. Today there is a greater variety of toys and gifts, and many families have incorporated these presents into the moment of making me “poop.” Nevertheless, the spirit remains the same: it’s not so much about what, but about the shared moment, the surprise, and the joy of doing it together.
5. You only appear once a year, during the month of December. How do you experience this brief life and what do you do the rest of the year?
The truth is, I live it very calmly. I know I only have a few days to enter homes, but they are intense days, full of excitement, songs, and shared moments. I prefer to be there for a short time but live it with great intensity.
The rest of the year I rest. I return to the forest, to nature, and patiently wait for another December to arrive. There I gather strength to return with the same joy as always. After all, my role is to remind us that special moments don’t last forever, but precisely for that reason, they are so valuable.
6. What message would you like to leave for families this Christmas?
This Christmas, I would tell you to enjoy the small moments. Take time to be together, sing, laugh, and share, even if it’s around a log and a few treats.
The most important thing is not what I “poop,” but everything that happens before and after: the anticipation, the conversations, and the shared excitement. In the end, these are the memories that last longer than any gift.
7. Our motto is “I am what I want to be.” And you, are you?
I am exactly what I want to be: a simple log that, once a year, enters homes to bring joy and unite families. I don’t need to be anything more.
Over the years, I’ve learned that being who you want to be isn’t about constantly changing, but about maintaining what makes you yourself. I remain rooted in the earth, in tradition, and in people, and that is what defines me. If everyone finds their place and lives it authentically, they are already doing the most important thing.
