Catalonian christmas/new years eve

Me and Tor Arne togheter with 6 other people (3 spanish and 3 german) celebrated new years eve together, including various christmas and new year traditions. We had cheese fondue for dinner, and the dessert was brought to us by Tió (see below).
















From the left: Anna, Robert, Tor Arne and Utah.















From the left: Tor Arne, Utah, me, Jörg, Marina, Daniel and Anna.


We had Tió, the log (see picture), who had been fed since December 8. In order for him to provide us with presents, we sing him a song which goes like this (english translation in brackets)

Caga tió, (shit Tió)
caga turrones (shit turrons (a type of chocolate candy))
si no vols cagar (if you don't shit properly)
et donaré un cop de bastó (I'll hit you with the stick)


(http://melisand.wordpress.com/2008/12/10/tio-de-nadal/)

Then we hit the poor guy... And out from under his blanket came some chocolate.















Everybody grabbing the stick preparing to hit Tió...


Now, midnight is getting nearer, so we prepare the grapes... Everybody gets 12 grapes, and from the stroke of midnight, one grape must be eaten at each of the twelve rings from the bell. If you manage all twelve you're supposed have good fortune in the following year. (A bit of chewing was demanded before we could all yell "Happy new year!!")