In photos: Clothe and feed a 'Christmas log' to receive gifts at Andorra Pavilion

There is a tree log at Expo 2020 Dubai's Andorra Pavilion that gifts children and adult alike candies, only once it is petted and taken care of. This is a special way of celebrating the festive season in Andorra and Catalonia called Tió de Nadal, which means 'Christmas Log' in English.

One of the oldest customs in Andorra and Catalonia, Tió de Nadal features a hollowed-out piece of log that is filled with candies or small gifts.

With an animated face, the log is usually supported on two to four legs made of wood, and is brought in on December 8 till Christmas. In the days leading up to Christmas, children must take good care of the log, keeping it warm and ’fed’, so that it will expel candies on Christmas Eve or Day.

Andorra Pavilion’s Tió has a penchant for dates and clementines. Young visitors can participate in the tradition of beating him with a stick, while the Caga tió tune is sung, before retrieving the sweet treats from behind the log.

This slice of Catalan Christmas tradition will be on display till December 26, Sunday, at the pavilion, which is located in the Sustainability District just past the Sustainability Pavilion.