The Essential Nativity Extra

While we might be used to the main stars of the traditional Nativity setting, I have recently taken to adding some extra characters to my annual Christmas  installation.

Possibly the only Papal celebrities to appear as part of the nativity setting Benedict XVI and Francis have joined my  art collection in caganer mode. 

A Caganer (Catalan pronunciation: [kəɣəˈne]) is a small statue found in Catalonia, in neighbouring areas with Catalan culture such as Andorra, and in other parts of Spain, Portugal and Italy. The figure is depicted in the act of defecation. Caganer is Catalan for "shitter". 

For those of sensitive dispositions I suggest a close reading of the Wikiwand article. In summary:

The reasons for placing a man who is in the act of excreting solid waste from his posterior in a scene which is widely considered holy are as follows:

1. Just tradition.
2. Scatological humor.
3. Finding the Caganer is a fun game, especially for children.
4. The Caganer, by creating feces, is fertilizing the Earth. However, this is probably an a posteriori explanation, and nobody would say they put the Caganer on the Nativity scene for this reason.
5. The Caganer represents the equality of all people e.g. regardless of status, race, gender everyone defecates.

The article for the above quote also makes reference to the Catalan greeting before eating;  "menja be caga fort" (Eat well, shit strong).

Caganer a gift for Christmas, figures, crafts  Check out World Leaders Caganers here