Monday, December 26, 2011

Got your Caganer for next year?



What you're looking at is part of a very elaborate Spanish Nativity scene. In the centre you can see the Magi and their attendants proceeding to Bethlehem to see the Infant Jesus.

In the lower left corner of the picture you see another figure, who is, errr, answering a call of nature. His name is El Caganer, and he has been a familiar figure in Catalan folklore since the 17th century, usually found squatting off to one side of the traditional scene.

You'll be glad to know that our modern, marketing-driven society has now produced Caganers in a wide variety of styles and colours. Representations of famous figures assuming the position are common. If you don't have one of these among your holiday decorations, contact Walt and I'll get one for you next time I'm in Spain.

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