Inside city's unusual Christmas poo tradition just like something out of South Park

Most children hang up stockings waiting for Father Christmas - but one European city decorates a little differently for festive season and it's all to do with, um, poo

Christmas traditions aren't just opening tin foil doors for daily chocolate or getting your nan absolutely hammered on shandy and truffle liqueurs.

While we do have some quintessentially British festive must-dos, of course, other places around the world have their traditions and it turns out one is all about poo.

Yes, that's right. Nothing screams 'the most wonderful time of the year' like a log of *ahem* fecal matter. But, that's what they do in Catalonia, the disputed autonomous community of Spain.

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Barcelona, is famous for football and Antoni Gaudí’s extensive, and unusual, architectural style that forms one of the most intriguing religious buildings in the world, the Sagrada Família.

And just like South Park character Mr Hankey, a little known relic that is native to the city and surrounding area is the Christmas poo log - Tió de Nadal, or Caga tió, that translates into a naughty word for releasing ones bowels...

If you happen to visit Barcelona around Christmas then you'll notice stalls upon stalls selling these little brown figures. Fear not, they're not actually pieces of poo but little wooden logs with red hats and, usually, smiley faces.

And you'll even find 'Caganer' figurines, such as Donald Trump, the Pope, SpongeBob and Mr Bean, squatting as if they're about to take a dump on the loo. How festive!

So, let's dig a little deeper into this interesting excrement trend...

What are the poo logs supposed to do?

You might think decorating the Christmas tree or the mantelpiece with wooden logs representing poo is a bit of an odd way to honour the festive season.

Though, of course, there is good reason for this. Instead of Santa, the children of Catalonia rely on a turd to bring them Christmas joy.

The Caga tió', or Tió de Nadal, which translates to poo log, is a little wooden log with painted faces propped up with sticks for legs and wears a red hat called the barretina.

It's the children's job to look after their little log, by keeping it warm with a blanket and 'feed' it the likes of nuts from 8th December - the Feast Of Immaculate Conception - so it 'fattens' the figurine up for Christmas Eve or Day.

The more it's looked after, the more nuggets of joy the 'Caga tió' will, hopefully, 'poo' out.

They even have a song to sing, the Tió Song, where kids will hit the log with a stick while reeling the tune off.

On the last verse, they apparently hit it a bit harder so it defecates presents, sweets and other treats - the stuff a British child would usually find in a stocking.

There are different versions of the song but here is one of them. To note, we've changed the four letter word beginning with 'S' to poo - but you catch our drift...

"Poo log,Poo nougats,Hazelnuts and mató cheese,If you don’t poo well,I’ll hit you with a stick,Poo log!"

Caga tió will then hopefully 'release' some goodies and the children can reach their hand under the blanket to see what the 'log' had left for them.

Who said Santa is the only one to bring the magic of Christmas! But in a somewhat sadistic yet efficient end for the little present pooing fella, he is then used on the fire to keep the family warm and the ashes would be spread on the adjacent field.

If the household doesn't have a fireplace or land to spread ashes, then the log is just reused for the following year - which is the most common decision nowadays.

The festive celebrations end on January 6, Three Kings Day, celebrated in Spain and Catalonia, where the 'Three Magic Kings' deliver the 'main' gifts instead of Santa Claus. This is a nod to when the Three Wise Men gave the gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh to baby Jesus.

Wherever you in Barcelona around Christmastime, expect to find poo logs of all shapes and sizes scattered around the city...

Why the tradition of poo?

So, we bet you're wondering where this festive obsession with defecating all started. Well, like most long-standing cultural traditions, the Caga tió is thought to be the consequence of folklore.

However, at the same time, this means that exact origins of the festive ritual is relatively unknown. Although, it is widely believed that the tradition has rural and pagan ties.

Instead of buying the logs from Christmas markets, originally parents would chop down a log and place it in the house without drawing on the face. Though, the poo log has evolved as society modernises.

Poo logs can now be bought in bauble form, cuddly toys, fridge magnets and a smaller size to make for a Christmas ornament. Regardless, it's supposed to be a sign of luck and prosperity - hence the more you look after it, the more gifts you get (or what the parents are willing to provide).

But, this is not the only obsession with 'poo' in the Catalan book of festive traditions. If you remember from the beginning of this article, then you might be wondering why you can get festive figurines of Donald Trump and the Pope popping a squat.

The Caganer, which translates to 'pooper', is a figurine that depicts someone going to the loo and is often discreetly placed amongst the nativity scene...

Again, nothing screams 'Christmas miracle' like taking a dump next to baby Jesus!

Traditionally, 'the pooper' figurine was a peasant wearing a white shirt, a barretina and with his trousers pulled down to his ankles, showing his bare bum ready to - or having done - a poo.

Nowadays, Caganers come in lots of different forms - including political, royal, cartoon and celebrity figures. Taylor Swift, Leo Messi (the most popular) and King Charles having poo in front of Mary and baby Jesus, well stranger things have happened.

Like the poo log, the origins of the pooper aren't exactly known. But, it is believed that it's most likely these figurines, in some form, first came onto the scene in either the 17th or 18th century.

But, again, why the obsession with poo? Instead of being prosperous in the gift form, the Caganer is supposed to be a figurine that offers good luck for the year ahead.

Others believe that the figure is all about fertility, and without it, farmers would have a bad growing season. It's thought that peasants would poo on the fields back in the day, which acted as a 'fertiliser' to the land and crops.

Hence why they are the figurine used to show 'good luck' and 'fertility'.

There is also another theory and the introduction to modern 'important' figures. It's believed that the Caganer originally came in the form of a peasant to show that we all the same, or to put it in laymen's terms, we all go to the loo - no matter who you are.

Well, maybe Kim Jung Un is the exception to this tradition.

But what we do know for a fact is that Catalonians are obsessed with all things poo around Christmastime - and unapologetically so.

Let us know in the comments what you think about the poo tradition. Do you think it's bonkers or will you be getting a log to go next to your tree?