For the Ronaldinho, Henry and Messi Fans Who Have Everything

By: Laurie | December 20th, 2007

I don’t get it. And yes, that is what you think it is.

But this little Thierry Henry statuette is apparently part of a longstanding Catalan nativity scene tradition dating back to the 17th century. And no, I am not making this up.

“The Catalans have added an extra character that is not found in the manger scenes of any other culture. In addition to Mary, Joseph, Jesus, the Shepherds and company, Catalans have the character known as the Caganer. This extra little character is often tucked away in some corner of the model, typically nowhere near the manger scene, where he is not easily noticed. There is a good reason for his obscure position in the display, for “caganer” translates from Catalan to English as “pooper”, and that is exactly what this little statue is doing”…

Right. Well, then.

So how do you think this particular tradition got started? I’m guessing that a long time ago, grandpa retired, and grandma made him start whittling to keep him out of her hair. And he decided on a nativity, and there was a little knothole behind the shepherd that looked a bit like a pile, and one thing led to another…

And next thing you know, your beloved footy players are being humiliated all over the world with photos like these.

Think this will increase the number of players wanting to transfer to Barcelona?

Ronaldinho

Lionel Messi

(Spotted on DuNord.)

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Laurie

Isaiah, you obviously let your class and good taste get in the way of a good story. Don't let it happen again!

:-)
Isaiah

I saw this a few weeks ago and for some reason chose not to post about it. What was I thinking?
Laurie

"way more well-endowed"?

Giggle.

Okay, you're in Seattle, right? I have to see this. Bring that to the first Seattle MLS game and I'll buy you a beer. :-)
Abby

It's an awesome caganer. He is all about it. Also, he's way more well-endowed than those caganers.

My mom still regrets not buying the Castro caganer.
Laurie

Abby, I don't know whether to be thrilled or horrified by this fact, but my opinion of you will never be the same. :-)

Brian, it's a good thing i wasn't drinking a coke when I read your comment, or my laptop would not have survived.
Abby

I have a Ronaldinho caganer. Not that particular one, but a Ronaldinho caganer. My mother brought it back for me from Barcelona. It's making a sort of rocking hand motion and has a 10 on his back. It's pretty awesome.
Brian

Something about look on the face of the Lionel Messi Caganer tells me he didn't really have any choice. Maybe he didn't want to drop a load in front of the newborn Savior, but sometimes it's not really up to you, you know?

But the Ronaldinho Caganer...it was totally up to him. And he's enjoying it.
Laurie

Oh, and the worst part of this? I'm flipping through Offside posts and get to the one before this, Chris's moving photo of the "Save Bangura" protest, and I see the title is "Portrait of a Movement," and I'm thinking. "Yes. That would fit this post as well."

Damn, I'm a horrible person.
Laurie

You're not kidding. Here's the best part of the Wikipedia entry, which didn't quite fit in the post:

In 2005, the Barcelona city council provoked a public outcry by commissioning a nativity scene which did not include a Caganer. Many saw this as an attack on Catalan traditions. The local government countered these criticisms by claiming that the Caganer did not feature because a recent by-law had illegalized public defecation and urination, meaning that the Caganer was now setting a bad example. Following a campaign against this decision called Salvem el caganer (Save the caganer), and widespread media criticism, the 2006 nativity restored the Caganer, who appeared on the northern side of the nativity near a dry riverbed.
Lucas

WTF? This just in: Truth more absurd than fiction.