Weird Christmas Decoration:Caganer
Posted by koolnews on December 3, 2010
Ever heard of the Caganer?
A Spanish figure in the act of pooping.
In Catalonia, and the rest of Spain, most of Italy and Southern France, traditional Christmas decorations consist of a large model of the city of Bethlehem, similar to the Nativity scenes. The caganer is a particular feature of modern Catalan nativity scenes.with Mary, Joseph, Jesus, the Shepherds and company, the caganer is often tucked away in a corner of the model, typically nowhere near the manger scene.
Why this bizarre decoration? Possible reasons include Tradition, humor, Finding the Caganer is a fun game, the Caganer is fertilizing the Earth, stressing humanity of baby Jesus..
The exact origin of the Caganer is lost, but the tradition has existed since the 17th century. The practice is tolerated by the local Catholic church
In 2005, the Barcelona city council provoked public anger by building a nativity scene without a Caganer. Many saw this as an attack on Catalan traditions. The local government claimed that the Caganer as new by-laws made public defecation and urination illegal
I still like the idea that the Caganer represents the equality of all people: regardless of status, race, or gender.
Everyone SHITS.
Update 12/13/11: 12 Weird Christmas Trees
Update 12/10/11: Singing Santa iPhone App
BUZZFEED: Weird Christmas Decoration
Related articles
- Top 10 Geeky Christmas Decorations (GeekDad Wayback Machine) (wired.com)
- Caganers: figurines of famous people defecating in Catalan Christmas nativity scenes (telegraph.co.uk)
Weirdest Christmas Decoration Ever | YourFunnyStuff.com said
[...] statue of a pooping elf is the traditional Christmas decoration of Catalonia, [...]
Live On Music » Blog Archive » Daily WTF: Spain’s Giant Pooping Elf Statue said
[...] to Buzzfeed, this is a Cagnar statue. The Caganar figure is often found in nativity scenes and represents fertilizing of the earth. [...]
Carles Pau said
You can read a bit about the Caganer, a longstanding favourite in Catalan nativity scenes here: http://www.barcelona-tourist-information.info/barcelona-christmas-fair.html. The little chap is usually placed beside or behind the cave (made from cork bark) where the Holy Family, the Three Wise Men and the Shepherds adore the infant Jesus. Making nativity scenes is a big part of the traditional Christmas in Catalunya and there is a Christmas Fair devoted to selling all you need to set one up. Some are massive complex affairs that evolve and develop over a generations.
The little extra in a Catalan Nativity scene | Unsettled Christianity said
[...] Weird Christmas Decoration:Cagnar (koolnews.wordpress.com) [...]
BBC News – A traditional Nativity scene, Catalan-style « Mind Your Language said
[...] Weird Christmas Decoration:Cagnar (koolnews.wordpress.com) [...]
Daily WTF: Spain’s Giant Pooping Elf Statue - Gossip Girl Blog said
[...] to Buzzfeed, this is a Cagnar statue. The Caganar figure is often found in nativity scenes and represents fertilizing of the earth. [...]
david shiel said
Repulsive at best.
koolnews said
Cultural difference .
Weird Christmas: El Caganer, The Art of Shit « Koolnews's Blog said
[...] Christmas is all around us, time to revisit El Caganer. [...]
veena f.g said
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vismitha k vijay 7th a said
i love you x mas