Christmas in Catalunya

Distracted by the seemingly inevitable possibility of spending Christmas alone in a foreign country, I neglected to consider how neat it actually can be to experience different holiday traditions.

And lucky for me, the region of Catalunya has some pretty interesting customs which sustained my intrigue well through the new year.

For example, I recently learned that Catalonians have a rather intense fascination with poop. No, that is not a Spanish word for something like carols or holly. Yes, you read that correctly. Poop. More specifically, they religiously follow two poop-related traditions:

1. Caganer: A small porcelain figure with its trousers down, pooping. The Caganer is placed somewhere in the traditional nativity scene, and sometimes portrays a famous person such as Barack Obama or Shakira. Children enjoy searching for the figure, who is often hiding near the horse stables. Caganer has been offering its unique presence to the nativity scene since at least the middle of the 18th or 19th century. Although in recent years the Catalan government has banned it from official displays throughout the city, people can still purchase their own personal Caganer at local Christmas Markets.

The caganer, never too far from the baby Jesus

President Obama as a caganer

 2. Caga Tio: A log painted with a smiley face to resemble a type of pet. The Caga Tio is given to children after El Dia de Inmaculada (December 8th), and is continuously cared for until Christmas Eve. This means that the children feed it, play with it, love it, and put it to bed every night. This whole experience culminates on Christmas Eve when the children cover the log with a blanket, and then beat the log with a stick while singing a special song. The song (and this is my favorite part) literally translates to "Caga Tio, shit us some presents!" Then, with the help of sneaky parents, presents magically appear under the blanket for the happy children.

Caga Tios of various sizes at a Christmas Market

 Don't understand? Don't believe me? See for yourself:



Now, I don't know about you, but I find the idea of a log pooping presents for children on Christmas Eve much more amusing than any ol' man in a red suit. But the truth is, Catalonians honestly believe in the goodness of poop- that is to say, they honor its ability to fertilize the earth. Therefore, putting a pooping figurine in a nativity scene isn't distasteful, it's just smart farming.

And so I have to say in all seriousness that I quite enjoyed my foreign holiday. From beautiful Christmas Markets to midnight masses, wandering around the streets of Barcelona, gawking at the hundreds of colorful lights which brighten the night, and giggling at traditions of poop, I honestly did not notice the absence of snow or long for American customs. Stepping out of your comfort zone is surely a good thing, but I think in particular stepping out of your Christmas comfort zone is especially good for the soul. And now, of course, I have a new interest in learning other cultural holiday traditions. While I doubt anything can beat a pooping log (pun intended), the thought of spending another holiday abroad no longer seems lonely, but inspiring.