If you walk around the streets in the Christmas season in Barcelona, or in any other cities or towns in Catalunya,
you will find these logs with a smiley face and a cute little red hat. Especially, in the christmas market in front of the
Cathedral in Barcelona, you will find hundreds and thousands of friendly faced logs in all sizes waiting for a new family.
Caga Tió, literally translated into ´poo log´, is a traditional Catalan festive symbol.
Throughout Christmas period, Caga Tió is given something to eat, such as mandarins or candies, and is then
covered with a blanket to make sure he doesn´t get cold.
This continues until Christmas Eve, when he is placed by the fire and is ordered to poo!
Children dance around the log, whilst beatingit with a stick and singing songs such as
"Caga tió, caga torró, avellanes i mató, so no cagues bé, et dare un cop de bastó.. Caga tió!"
Translation: Pooing log, poo turrón (Catalan caramel for christmas season),
poo hazelnuts and cottage cheese, if you don´t poo well, I´ll beat you with my stick, Pooing log!
Whilst hitting the log, the children take turns to look under the blanket to find that the log has magically produced a present for them.
Traditionally, the Caga tiós used to produce candies and turróns, but nowadays, it seems like they are getting more pressure by the Santa Claus who comes across a ocean. They started producing Play station consoles, X box, Barbies, digital cameras and mp3s recently.
Barcelona, the sacred city of FCB! FCB has become a new legend by becoming the Champion of the most important matches, the Champion of the Primera Liga, Champion of the Champion´s League and the Champion of the King´s Cup in last season. In the new season, we are expecting Barça to continue bringing us news of triumphs.
If you come all the way to Barcelona, how can you miss watching their match? And of course, if you´re watching the match, we´re not going to let you watch it alone or wander around to find a place. Why don´t you watch with Urbany Hostel Barcelona crews and more backpackers?
Urbany Hostel in Barcelona brings you the football (or soccer) vibe. Don’t miss out the football influence in the city: when Barça plays, the Barcelona stops; everything is in stand-by. FC Barcelona is “more than a club (més que un club)” in Catalonia because it is the sports club that most represents the country and is also one of its greatest ambassadors. Also, for different reasons, FC Barcelona is “more than a club” for many people living elsewhere in Spain, who see Barça as a staunch defender of democratic rights and freedom. Urbany Hostel in Barcelona testifies it!
In Urbany Hostel, we have a special sound-proof room and a bar to watch Barça matches in the perfect atmosphere. Gather with your friends, get snacks and get ready to enjoy of the best football of all times! Anything goes for Urbany Hostel Barça sessions, from scarves to T-shirts, just pop in the room of our youth hostel and indulge yourself watching sports magicians with their mojo working.
Today, football has become a global phenomenon, and support for Barcelona has spread spectacularly around the world. Be part of it!
On the 23rd of April, Barcelona celebrates the Catalan Patron Saint Sant Jordi (St. George in English). The main particularity of this event is that locals consider it as their St. Valentine’s day, thanks to the legend which describes St. George as a very romantic character.
The legend also says that the Saint killed the dragon which was threatening the population since a long time. From the monster’s blood, wonderful red roses grew. This is the reason why, since the Middle Age, men are supposed to offer a red rose to women in this particular day. Later, in XX century, the date was also associated to the national day of books, for an editor’s marketing reason. This is how it was started the tradition of women offering a book to men as an exchange of the rose received.
On this particular day, along all the main streets (and especially La Rambla, Rambla Catalunya and Passeig de Gracia) there is a massive sale of books both in Catalan and in Spanish. Everywhere you will also find stands selling red roses, of course. It seems that on the 23rd of April about 4 millions roses and 400 thousands books are sold. This is the half of the yearly books sale! St. George’s day isn’t bank holiday here in Barcelona, however many people take the day off to enjoy the festivity atmosphere, walk along La Rambla and look for some books to buy.
The 23rd is also an opportunity for backpackers to assists to many other activities: *In Plaça Sant Jaume people dance the Catalan traditional Sardana. *Many books-shops and bars host writers reading parts of famous novels. *In some areas of the city hundreds of Jordi, Jorge, George, Yuri, Gorka and Giorgio make a human chain trying to enter the Guinness Premiership. *All around the city centre there will be many street art shows with musicians, human statues and actors to make the atmosphere even more romantic.
So… if you are staying at the Urbany Hostel Barcelona on this particular day, don’t waste your time: take the red metro line to Plaça Catalunya and start exploring St. Jordi’s events all around town.
Holy Week is here already! In Spanish it is called Semana Santa and especially the celebrations which take place in the South of Spain are worldwide popular. In Barcelona isn’t very active, also because of the cosmopolitan nature of the city.
We are about to enter in the last week of Carnival which as usual brings many parties and celebrations in town. Spain is pretty active by this time of the year and Barcelona takes part of the colourful mood of these days, with their fancy dress processions, floats pared and jokes.
Barcelona Hostels. Inject some high class into your hostelling with a stay in the awesome Urbany Hostel Barcelona!
On the 23rd of April, Barcelona celebrates the Catalan Patron Saint Sant Jordi (St. George in English). The main particularity of this event is that locals consider it as their St. Valentine’s day, thanks to the legend which describes St. George as a very romantic character.
the population since a long time. From the monster’s blood, wonderful red roses grew. This is the reason why, since the Middle Age, men are supposed to offer a red rose to women in this particular day. Later, in XX century, the date was also associated to the national day of books, for an editor’s marketing reason. This is how it was started the tradition of women offering a book to men as an exchange of the rose received.
Holy Week is here already! In Spanish it is called Semana Santa and especially the celebrations which take place in the South of Spain are worldwide popular. In Barcelona isn’t very active, also because of the cosmopolitan nature of the city.
