Caganer
caganer catalan pronunciation kəɣəˈne figurine depicted act defecation appearing nativity scene catalonia neighbouring area andorra valencia balearic island northern catalonia southern france popular widespread area also found area spain murcia portugal southern italy naples name el caganer literally mean pooper traditionally figurine depicted peasant wearing traditional catalan red cap barretina trouser showing bare backside defecating exact origin caganer unknown tradition existed since least th century according society amics del caganer friend caganer believed entered nativity scene late th early th century baroque period catalan country well rest spain italy southern france traditional christmas decoration often consist large model city bethlehem similar nativity scene englishspeaking world encompassing entire city rather typical manger scene pessebre often reproduction pastoral scene—a traditional catalan masia farmhouse central setting child manger outlying scene including washerwoman river woman spinning shepherd herding sheep walking towards manger gift three wise men approaching camel back scene angel shepherd star pointing way etc commonly material moss used represent grass cork used represent mountain cliff caganer particular highly popular feature modern catalan nativity scene believed entered nativity scene late th early th century baroque period eminent folklorist joan amades called essential piece popular figure nativity scene also found part southwestern europe including murcia region south valencia spain called cagones naples cacone pastore che caca portugal cagões sculpture person defecating hidden inside cathedral ciudad rodrigo province salamanca though part nativity scene accompanying mary joseph jesus shepherd company caganer often tucked away corner model typically nowhere near manger scene tradition catalonia child find hidden figure possible reason placing figure representing person act emptying bowel scene widely considered holy include caganer creating faeces fertilizing earth according ethnographer joan amades customary figure nativity scene pessebres th century people believed deposit symbolically fertilized ground nativity scene became fertile ensured nativity scene following year health body peace mind required make nativity scene joy happiness brought christmas near hearth placing figurine nativity scene brought good luck joy brought adversity many modern caganers represent celebrity authority figure representing pant caganer serf levelling device bring mighty charge blasphemy catalan anthropologist miguel delgado pointed grotesque rather negation divine may actually signify intensification sacred could grotesque crucifixion jesus christ bloody public torture execution defining moment story christianity essay le virtuts cìviques del caganer civic virtue defecator american anthropologist brad erickson argues catalan use caganer process respond contemporary social issue immigration imposition public civility regulation opinion caganer mischievous outofplace character pessebres otherwise idyllic landscape everything entail accepted liberal vein long aim occupy foreground caganer represented spoilsport inside u thats surprising beloved figure among child adolescent already beginning feel rather like outsider family celebration agustí pons caganer hidden figure yet always sought like lost link transcendence contingency without caganer would nativity scene rather liturgy would real country false landscape model joan barril caganer seems provide counterpoint much ornamental hullabaloo much emotive treacle much contrived beauty josep murgades caganer like many thing undergone filtering great many generation cult object playful aesthetic superficial devotion feel towards silly thing fascinate u deep jordi soler caganer defecating character catalan christmas tradition—another tió de nadal also make extensive use image faecal matter log ie tió fed several week told defecate christmas eve magically produce candy child candy supposedly come bowel mention faeces defecation common catalan folklore indeed popular catalan saying use meal menja bé caga fort tinguis por la mort eat well shit heartily dont afraid death book barcelona architecture critic locale historian robert hughes give good introduction earthy tradition caganer also found european culture either import minor local tradition france père la colique father colic france figure seems date murcia region south valencian community spain called cagones naples area known cacone pastore che caca portugal known cagões traditional caganer portrayed catalan peasant man ie farmer shepherd wearing typical hat called barretina—a red stocking hat black band least since late figure traditional catalan peasant woman also added wearing traditional garb including long black hairnet catalan modified tradition good deal since addition traditional caganer design one easily find character assuming caganer position nun devil santa claus celebrity athlete historical figure politician spanish royalty british royalty famous people past present day election u president pooper barack obama made available caganers easiest find christmas holiday market like one front cathedral santa eulalia many table caganers every year new figure created people collect caganers focal point least one association el amics del caganer ie friend caganer put regular bulletin el caganòfil even featured art exhibit recent year urinating statue pixaner also appeared taken root gained serious popularity barcelona city council provoked public outcry commissioning nativity scene include caganer local government reported countered criticism claiming caganer included civility ordinance made public defecation public urination illegal meaning caganer setting bad example many saw attack catalan tradition one writer letter editor asserted nativity scene without caganer nativity scene second writer offered winwin solution suggested including caganer also placing figure police officer pen clipboard next writing ticket infraction writer said would achieve three objective respect tradition comply ordinance educate public reinforced finally demonstrate important respect law finally head park garden publicly denied prohibiting caganer first place saying artistic decision artist commissioned city design install pessebre following campaign caganers absence called salvem el caganer save caganer widespread medium criticism nativity restored caganer appeared northern side nativity near dry riverbed mooning – act displaying one bare buttock tió de nadal medium related caganer wikimedia common christmas barcelona leoniediscoverscom leonie discovers catalunyas christmas caganer archived wayback machine roughguidescom annelise sorensen december caganers nation faith orenetacom defecation caganers section caganer festes website catalan amics del caganer friend caganer english catalan spanish german