If you pass by Barcelona during the period Christmas you will notice that the main gift shops, among the stalls of the markets and on display in the souvenir shops, you will find numerous statuettes, depicting characters of various kinds, intent on making poop. It is, in fact, the Caganer.
Coming from the Catalan culture, at the beginning to be depicted was a country dweller dressed in traditional clothes with attention to detail: it had to be complete with belt and red cap. However, over the centuries to be portrayed in the "garments" of Caganer they were, little by little, all of them: ranging from show business personalities, to the protagonists of the international political scene to football players. The custom has it that the figurine is placed inside your crib as a lucky charm for the new year. Although not born to offend the sacredness of Christmas, the Caganer is usually placed in a part of the scenography of the Christmas less in sight.
The meanings related to figurine there are many: not only fertility in the broad sense, but also equality between peoples.
In addition to the Caganer, in Barcelona for Christmas it is customary to adorn one's homes with the Tio de Nadal, or even Cagatiò: it is a log of rough wood to which human features are given. From 8 December the log is covered with a blanket and placed in the center of the house: from that day until 24 December "it will be served food". The last day under the touches of the goliardic beatings and singing the traditional nursery rhyme, the Cagatiò will have to "defecate" sweets and delicacies for the children.
A very special tradition that finds its explanations also in one of the Catalan expressions most used "Meja be, shit fort! "
