The ‘pooping man’ doesn’t sound Christmassy to me personally, but people from certain parts of Spain beg to differ. The Caganer, is a small figurine of a man crouching down with his trousers uncovering his backside. Let’s dive a bit more into what this unusual Christmas icon represents.
The defecating man is placed by the ‘belen’ (manger) hiding in the corner or behind a bush. It is majorly tradition in Cataluña, Comunidad Valenciana and the Islas Baleares, although it can also be used in different areas of Spain, Italy and Portugal but under a different name.
It is thought to have been created in the 17th century however not as a part of the belen and didn’t become popular until the 19th Century.
The Caganer is believed to bring good luck and prosperity for the following year, as he fertilizes the earth. In the 2000s they began selling modern and alternative versions of the Caganer usually with the faces of celebrities such as footballer Lionel Messi, ex-president Obama and former Pope Francis.
The Caganer is not the only Christmas figure that defecates which is famous in Cataluña. The Tió de Nadal or “cagatió” is a magic log with a smiley face which ‘poops’ presents and sweets.
After the 8th December, the bank holiday for the day of Inmaculada Concepción, children must cover the log with a blanket to keep it warm. On Christmas Eve, kids will hit the log while they sing special ‘villancicos’ to make the log release their Christmas presents. Parents will place the presents under the blanket and behind the log before or after this ritual to surprise the little ones. The tradition dates back to pre-Christian times from rural areas and it also relates to the fertilization of the earth.
We can confidently conclude that Cataluña has its fair share of Christmas ‘pooping’ figures, which will come as a surprise to many. Let us know what funny or unusual Christmas traditions you have in your culture or household!
