Right now Barcelona is filled with Christmas markets of every kind. As you wander through the Gothic Quarter and come upon a square of any size you will find a Christmas market.
Each one seems to specialize in something. This one a food market, that one an art market, and then the next one a traditional market selling ornaments and trees and general Christmas merch, like the Catalan favorite Caganer.
The Caganer is a figurine depicted in the act of defecation appearing in nativity scenes in Catalonia and neighbouring areas with Catalan culture. The name “El Caganer” literally means “the crapper” or “the shitter”. Traditionally, the figurine is depicted as a peasant, wearing the traditional Catalan red cap (the barretina) and with his trousers down, showing a bare backside, and defecating. Yep, it’s true. No one knows why but it delights Christmas celebrants of every age in Catalonia.
It was a beautiful night – sweatshirt weather – and the Gothic Quarter was alive with tens of thousands of shoppers.
