Caga tió - the pooping log
In Catalonia, they have the Christmas tradition of the pooping log. Basically, you give the log a little bit to eat each night from the 8th December until Christmas Day. On Christmas day you order it to poop and if it doesn't you hit it with a stick. When it has pooped out all its presents, it will urinate! As you hit the log you are supposed to sing a song which goes as follows: "Pooping log, poop turron, hazelnuts and cheese, if you don't poop well, I'll hit you with a stick. Pooping log!". When Joaquim (our Spanish friend who's house we are house sitting) told me about this and left us instructions on how to use the pooing log I thought he was joking - but it really works. Thanks caga tio!
The Polynesian Maori reached New Zealand in about A.D. 800. In 1840, their chieftains entered into a compact with Britain, the Treaty of Waitangi, in which they ceded sovereignty to Queen Victoria while retaining territorial rights. In that same year... ... read more 
