The Christmas Pooper
Right now you are wondering what in the heck a Christmas pooper has to do with Christmas. One European Country has a unique tradition involving their nativity scenes. Have I piqued your curiosity? If so, keep reading.
Brief History
Sometime during the 18th century, a small figure began appearing in the nativity scene. In Catalonia, the nativity is more than just the manger scene found in many American homes. Decorations often consist of a large model of the city of Bethlehem. Catalonian’s design pesserbre or pastoral scenes including farmhouses, shepherds with their flocks in fields, washer women, wise men on camels and of course a manger. Somewhere in this large pesserbre El Caganer will be hidden.
El Caganer is the Catalan word for “the pooper” or “the shitter”. The figure traditionally wears a Catalonian peasant outfit. There is a red cap, white shirt and black pants. The pants are pulled down exposing the figures buttocks. There is also a small pile of feces on the ground beneath the figure.
Why?!?!?!
Well, nobody seems to know how or why this figure was added to the nativity scenes. It is believed that it appeared around the end of the 18th century during the Baroque Period. Baroque art is often elaborate and highly detailed. It involves exaggerated motion and clear detail. This helps produce drama, exuberance and grandeur in art. Baroque art also had an exaggerated realism. Artists displayed scenes from village life. Some scenes were people answering the call of nature in public.
Another theory suggests that El Caganer is a symbol of good luck and fertility. Poop is fertilizer. Fertilizer helps crops grow. The better the crops grow the better off a farmer is financially. Today, many believe it is bad luck to not have a Caganer in the nativity.
Some believe the figure is to humble viewers. It demonstrates that no one can be fully prepared for when Jesus will appear. Or it is possible that a tradition of Catalans has something to do with the figure. Traditionally, they referred to babies as caganers. Why? Because babies don’t do much more than eat, sleep and poop. Consequently, those who visited around Christmas would ask their hosts if they ‘…put in the caganer yet?’ referring to baby Jesus.
Today
Catalan, Spain isn’t the only place one can find El Caganer in a nativity scene. Several other parts of Spain, a small part of France and even some of Italy have the Caganer tradition. Around 2003, Spanish designers of the Caganer figure noticed a decrease in sales. They decided to breathe new life into this old tradition.
They began designing famous Caganer figures. U.S. presidents, the Queen, the Pope, Iron Man and Sponge Bob are only a few of the new Caganer figures.
The City Council of Barcelona tried to remove the Caganer figure in 2005. Many citizens complained. They felt it was an attack on their cultural heritage. Their complaints were lodged. In 2006, El Caganer was reinstated and has remained a favorite figure since.
Happy Holidays
May you all have a happy and blessed holiday season! I hope that you received a new set of clothes to keep away the Yule Cat. Don’t forget to put out a bowl of porridge for your house Nisse.
