Christmas Party at Playgroup

Yesterday in playgroup, all the kids and their parents were invited to a special party to celebrate the Christmas season - Catalan style! While I'd never witnessed the "caga tió" tradition, I'd heard a lot about this smiling log that poops presents. I can never wrap my head around this! He looks like this:

Although I mentioned this last year, here's a refresher. Starting on December 8, you give the caga tió a little bit to eat every day like fruit peel. On the day you celebrate Christmas, you beat him with a stick and sing songs about the tió. He doesn't drop big gifts (that's for the three kings to do), just little ones like candies, nuts or turrones. Or other things I guess! Let's get to the party!

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As soon as the snacks showed up, all the kids lined up along the tables without blinking. And that's with the school's no/low sugar policy!

We all sat around and sang some typical songs in English and Catalan, which the kids had been singing for weeks ("Jingle Bells", "We Wish You a Merry Christmas", "El 25 de Desembre", and "Caga Tió")

Who's this? Well of course...it's the infamous pooper! He's covered in a blanket for some privacy.

One of Paloma's teachers leads Paloma to check out the secretive log, who's about to drop a bomb or twelve.

The kids sing songs to encourage the caga tió to do its dirty business -- two or three times actually! Poor thing needed a laxative.

Yay! With some concentration and encouragement, he did it! He pooped some presents for all the kids!

Paloma wonders what's underneat the log excrement / her present.

Plasticine! Or in American English terms, play dough!

On our way out, Paloma admired the Christmas tree that's been up for a few weeks, which is adorned by the kids' homemade ornaments.

We found one of Paloma's two! But we couldn't find the other one...

Here it is! It made the top of the tree! I'm so...I mean, we're so proud!

See you soon! ;-)