Barcelona children have plenty of opportunities to enjoy the holydays:
- Advent Calendar. The countdown for Christmas starts when you buy an Advent Calendar in a bookstore at the stationer's. This calendar goes from December 1st to Christmas, and has a little window for each day, that you open as days go by.
- Setting up the Nativity. That's a huge event for the family. I told you everything you need to know about it in my first Christmas post.
- Caga Tió. This tradition might sound a bit scathologic, but it actually refers to the land fertility, and therefore wealth and good luck in general. On Christmas Eve, a Tió or Pooing Trunk is set in a prominent place of the house living room. Traditionally, it has a smily face painted in one end and wears a "barretina" hat. You must cover it with a blanket, so it doesn't get cold. But the trunk is still freezing, so children must warm it up so it can "poo" them their presents, and they do it by hitting it with a stick and singing a traditional song. I've heard many different versions of this tune; in my family we used to sing something that could be translated as: "Poo trunk, poo cottage cheese and honey, if you don't poo enough, I will burn you". Yes, maybe not too reassuring for the poor trunk but it is effective! After singing it a few times always hitting the trunk with your stick, you can lift up the blanket and... surprise! the trunk will have certainly pooed presents and sweets for you!
- December 28th, day of the Innocents. That's the equivalent to April Fools for many countries: a day to fool people and have a laught at them. Children often cut off paper dolls (LLUFES in Catalan) to hang them at the back of people when they don't notice...
- Childhood Festival in Montjuic. Every year the Barcelona Fair organises a kids festival with hundreds of activities for kids. In 2008 it'll be from December 27th to January 4th. Unfortunately, their website is only in Spanish.
- The Man of the Noses. A Catalan Legend says there is a Man that has as many noses as days are left before the year is over. This poor man can only walk in the streets on the last day of the year, when he has only one nose. Children walk around watching people noses and wondering who must be this misterious man... A big-head carnival figure of the "Home dels Nassos" will be parading the streets. Check out the city council website to know more about its itinerary.
- Toy Fair in Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes. Every year the central part of this street holds a Toy Fair with dozens of stalls with the best toys and games to tempt both kids and adults.
- A letter for the Three Wise Men. Although globalization is making him more and more popular, in Spain Santa Claus is still beaten by the Three Wise Men as present carrier. Usually each child has a favorite Wise Men: Melchor (the white), Gaspar (the blond) or Baltasar (the black), and writtes a letter for him, telling him all the presents he/she wants to get for having been a good child. After writing the letter, it must be giving to a Royal Page. You'll find one in the Palau de la Virreina (99, Rambla) from December 29th to January 4th.
- The Three Wise Men Parade. They come to the city with their camels and pages and parade the streets before starting their important job of distributing toys among the Barcelona children during a long long busy night for them. This year they arrive by boat at 5.30pm at the Moll de la Fusta pier, then the Parade starts at the Ciutadella Park, through Via Laietana and towards Montjuïc.
- Getting ready for the Three Wise Men to come. Of course, January 5th is a night when children must go early to sleep. But before that, they will make sure to leave some turrón and cava for the Three Wise Men, and water and old bread for the horses. We also leave a shoe near the nativity, so they know where to leave your presents.
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