Every year around the Christmas season: Committed villagers meet in the historical medieval towns – the grandchildren and great-grandchildren of the shoemaker, the hairdresser, the potter or the carpenter. They have dug the ancient tools of their ancestors out of sheds and storage rooms and form in courtyards, on alleys and squares into lively pictures. In Báscara, Castelló, Pals, Peralada and other places, workshops, market activities and the birth of Jesus come alive. “Pessebres Viventes” – “Living Cribs” are tradition in Catalonia.
Around Christmas time, almost every village is filled with new life. Sometimes only for one evening – often on all public holidays. Then meet families and guests united as an actor or visitor, hears children’s laughter mixed with the chatter of ducks and chickens, interrupted by the hammering of imaginary workshops, surrounded by smoke from old fireplaces, illuminated by small campfires and the shine of torches in the wind. A painterly colorful picture, in which the right Christmas spirit comes up every year: Catalonia on a journey through time to the Bethlehem in the time of Jesus Christ’s birth.
In the hinterland of the Costa Brava, in Báscara, you will find one of the most impressive productions. Every year, more than 300 amateur actors move their visitors back to the Palestine of more than 2000 years ago. Since 1973, this nativity scene has been depicted in the medieval streets and walls of this community. The pictures in the middle of a beautiful natural landscape on the banks of the Fluviá, against the backdrop of numerous rocks, springs and waterfalls are ready for film.
A Nativity figure with bare buttocks However, it is astonishing here as well as elsewhere for non-initiated. Because that’s probably only available in Catalonia: not far from the Christ Child in the crib, someone lowers their pants and puts a smelly heap in the middle of the most beautiful photo motif. Anyone who suspects a new kind of joke is wrong! In Catalonia, this strange happening has been part of the permanent nativity scene ceremonial since the Baroque. The little Caganer – the “shit” is considered a lucky charm and probably reflects the Catalan mentality: one cares little about the sacred and prefers to think practically: the fertilization of the fields and a good harvest afterwards. If you are looking for the personal lucky charm for 2015 under the Christmas tree: www.caganer.com You’re spoiled for choice: football stars, politicians, film characters and even Queen Leticia are available from 16 euros with bare buttocks. Bestseller 2014: The Pope!
In all holiness – we wish Merry Christmas And the perfect start to the new year.
