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Crappy Christmas: meet the Caganer, the famous Spanish pooping decoration

The cheeky chappy displays his bum in nativity scenes across Spain each Christmas

Thinking about jazzing up your Christmas decorations this year? Well, as long as you’re not of a squeamish nature, no home in Spain is complete without a ‘caganer’, a naughty little figurine that is typically crouched in a rather compromising position, presumably answering the call of nature.

The squatting ornament is most often seen in Catalonia but its popularity as a festive centrepiece has spread all over Spain, most notably in the Valencian Community and the Region of Murcia, where the cheeky chappy is known as a ‘cagón’.

According to the fireside stories, not having a pooping little man could spell misfortune for the year ahead, as he symbolises the fertilisation of the land and brings luck and happiness to the home. He’s usually placed in the nativity scene, or Belén, tucked away into a corner to protect his dignity.

Origin of the caganer

In truth, no-one knows for sure at this stage, but according to Catalan folklore, the caganer or cagón appeared at the end of the 18th century, supposedly inspired by a marble relief called La Virgen y la montaña de Montserrat. This famous statue of the Mother of God with the Child is located next to the Monserrat massif, behind which many a traveller has ducked to ‘do his business’ over the years.

It’s also suggested that the caganer tradition took off during the Baroque period in Spain, when artists and sculptors favoured ‘real’ scenes of daily life and previously undignified postures were often incorporated.

Caganer’s place in modern households

The name ‘El Caganer’ literally means “the pooper” and the oldest examples show a farmer or peasant wearing a red cap called a ‘barretina’ and smoking a pipe, with his trousers down around his ankles and his bottom on show.

Today, far more prominent posteriors have been immortalised and modern nativity sets can be graced with every celebrity imaginable, with defecating Donald Trumps becoming especially popular a couple of years ago.

Back in 2005, there was public uproar in Barcelona when the council commissioned the city’s nativity without a caganer, claiming that it encouraged public urination and defecation. Popular opinion won out, and the well-loved figurine was reinstated the following year.

Spain is home to many wonderfully wacky holiday traditions and customs that are great fun to adopt. But if you’re considering adding a caganer this year, just remember to place him in a discreet spot to avoid too many raised eyebrows. And to protect his modesty, of course.

Images 1&2: Wikimedia Commons

Image 3: Archive

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