The Caganer — a strange symbol of Christmas in Catalonia

The Caganer is a unique Christmas symbol that can be seen in Catalonia. It is a figurine of a man relieving himself. Initially, it was part of the pessebre nativity scene and became a cultural phenomenon over time. Now the Caganer is one of the most popular Catalan souvenirs.

History of the Caganer

The exact origin of the Caganer, literally “the one who relieves himself,” is unknown. Its first mention dates back to the late 17th — early 18th century.

It is part of a traditional nativity scene depicting Joseph, Mary, and baby Jesus meeting with the three wise men in a manger. Catalans decided to add to this sacred picture a peasant in traditional black-and-white clothes and a red barretina hat relieving himself. It is believed that this is a symbol of fertility since feces fertilize the earth.

Similar figures can be found in the Spanish region of Murcia, in the Italian Naples, in Portugal, and in France.

The Caganer is not the only Christmas tradition in Catalonia associated with excrement. There is also the Caga Tio log, whose name translates as “pooping uncle” or “pooping log”. It is also called Tió de Nadal.

The Caga Tio is installed in the house a few weeks before the holiday. The younger members of the family take care of it for several weeks, hoping to receive sweets for Christmas.

Caganers in our time

Nowadays, the Caganer figurine is one of the most popular gifts from Catalonia. Figurines are made not only in the classic form of a peasant in a red headdress but also in the form of politicians, actors, musicians, athletes, film and cartoon characters, religious figures, etc. Every year, new figures appear, reflecting past events and trends. It is believed that the image of popular personalities as a caganer emphasizes that we are all human and equal.

The importance of this character is also demonstrated by the exhibition in the White Rabbit Museum, located in Barcelona and dedicated to Catalan culture. Sculptors Carles Piera and Enric Planas created a large-scale statue of a caganer in gold.

In Spain, there is even a society called Amics del Caganer (Friends of the Caganer), created in 1990. It organizes exhibitions and publishes an annual newsletter with interesting information.

 

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