Christmas and football are increasingly squeezed together in a marketing exercise which drags a few extra pounds out of fans. Festive jumpers, snow-globes, tree decorations, there’s all sorts, but perhaps few as curious as the caganer.
A Catalan nativity addition, caganers aren’t part of a marketing push, but rather a traditional ornament which has extended to include footballers and other famous people.
This is why many Spanish households will have a Barcelona player pooing as part of their Christmas scene. The tradition dates back hundreds of years and not having a caganer as part of a nativity scene may bring bad fortune.
A figurine placed on a more traditional nativity scene showing a character in the process of defecation symbolises the ground being fertilised and brings luck for the coming year. There are other theories, as with any old tradition, which include caganers showing equality, presumably because we all have to go the toilet.
The tradition has evolved and whilst the characters may have once been related to nativity figures, for some years there have been caganers available of famous people. Taking a leading role are Barcelona players, and last year Catalan newspaper Sport explained Luis Suarez already had his own caganer, such was his popularity.
In November, Sport reported that Suarez was top of the caganer wish-list this year, along with his Barcelona manager Luis Enrique.
It’s not restricted to Barcelona players, and the tradition exists in other areas of Spain too. Pep Guardiola’s caganer is still popular, and is updated every year or two as the Manchester City manager grows older.
Other football personalities such as Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho, and Real Madrid trio Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Sergio Ramos also have their very own caganers, such is their profile in Spain.
Outside of football, famous Spanish people and those on the world stage will often end up with their own caganers.
At the end of 2016 it’s no surprise to see that Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton have joined Barack Obama in the collection of those available to buy.
Traditionally sold at markets, caganers are also available online. It’s a little late to have them delivered around the world now, but with a few new additions expected for 2017, it may be worth starting to plan your own caganer choices for a nativity scene.
To bring good luck, and very strange looks.
