These pooey Catalan traditions may shed some light on the popular Catalan saying
“menja bé, caga fort i no tinguis por a la mort!” (Eat well, poo strong and don’t be afraid of death!)
A popular and much loved Catalan Christmas figure, this small statue, originally of a pooping peasant wearing traditional floppy red Catalan cap (barretina), crouches with trousers half down, in a ‘toilet’ position, making his small contribution to the land.
The ‘Père Noel du Secours Populaire’ doesn’t hand out presents, he collects them.
In some towns and villages, these Nativity scenes come out onto the streets, life-size, to convey the essence of the festivities
History tells the facts – Art tells the story
What do wooden crutches, miniature boats and faint words scrawled on an altar have in common? Each one is a thank you to God or a saint for divine intervention.
First week in December – Not a good weekend to pop across the border!
How well do you know Catalan culture and traditions? Take our quiz and find out.
The ‘Catherinettes’ were poor old ladies of twenty-five years old who had not managed to hook themselves a husband by the 25th November, Feast of Saint Catherine, patron saint of young unmarried women.
The remains of a single French soldier slain on the battlefield were buried on November 11, 1920, two years after the end of the ironically named ‘War to End All Wars’.
