Because we live in Barcelona, many of our children may also have a few more, shall we say, unusual, images dancing through their heads. Let us begin by gazing at the classic nativity scene. There are the wise men, the sheep, the ducks, Mary, Joseph and the baby Jesus in his cradle. Oh, but wait, who's that pooping over in the corner next to those ceramic shepherds? Meet El Caganer, the beloved pooping participant of the Catalan pessebre. There is some debate over the origins and reasons for this tradition but it is generally agreed that El Caganer (literally 'the pooper') has been doing his business in Catalan mangers for at least 200 years. Apparently there was widespread outcry in 2005 because the Barcelona City Council commissioned a nativity scene that did not include a caganer. I would really love to have been a fly on the wall during the discussions that took place regarding the issue.
Outraged Catalan Citizen: "WHERE'S OUR POOPER? Normally he squats over by that dry riverbed, next to the angel, and this year he's GONE! How could you!
City Official: "We felt that in view of the recent law making public defecation illegal, including the pooper in the nativity would set a bad example…"
Outraged Catalan Citizen: "This is an outrage! This is an attack on Catalunya! Bring back the pooper! Independence from Spain!!"
A 'Save the Pooper' campaign and general media frenzy followed and in 2006, El Caganer was back squatting where he belonged.
Anyway, back to our kids. The Caganer is not their only scatological holiday reference. No indeed. Now imagine if you got David Lynch and John Waters together and ordered them to devise a Christmas scenario which involved poop. Just think about the possibilities and then understand that reality would still be stranger than fiction. That's right, I'm talking about the cagatió, the famous present-pooping log, adored by children throughout Catalunya. Just in case you're not familiar with the routine, cagatió is a jaunty little log with a red hat. After 'feeding' him for several nights, children hit him with a stick while singing a special song in which they order him to poop gifts. Then they look under his red plaid blanket (that's where the magic happens!) and voila! Turrones and whatnot for all!
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