As every year around this time, the Fira de Santa Llucia opened about 10 days ago and will go on until the 22 of December, in front of the Cathedral, in the Gothic area.

This is one of the main December appointments for people in Barcelona, with its almost 300 stalls selling seasonal ornaments and handicrafts. Here is where most of the inhabitants of this city go to buy their Christmas trees and every sort of material to prepare the nativity scene, such as statues, musk, cork, sawdust, rocks and bark.

Among the different characters of the nativity, here we can also find a very special one, the caganer (literally “the shitting man”). This is a Catalan traditional statue with its origins in the XVII century and represents a local peasant with a red stocking hat and a black band. The meaning of the tradition is to be found in the belief that his depositions fertile the soil of the nativity and makes it rich for the following year. Nowadays it is also possible to buy some of the most popular international characters represented as a caganer.

Another eschatological tradition you can find in the market is the cagatió, which is a trunk with eyes and legs. It is usually bought on the 8th of December and until Christmas Eve children needs to cover it with a blanket and feed it with their favourite food. The night of the 24th or the 25th in the morning they make the trunk “defecating” by hitting it with a stick, while singing some traditional songs.  What the trunk actually expels are generally candies, nougats and cookies.
This tradition is related to the fact that wood was originally the main source of energy and heath, especially in the rural areas. Here at Christmas time people used to burn one especially big trunk in order to create a cosier atmosphere for the celebrations. The habit developed into a real tradition, including some little prizes in it.

As every Christmas market, it is a very good opportunity for backpackers to get to know a little bit of the local culture and traditions and feeling a very authentic Catalan atmosphere.

Information –
Dates: 29th November – 22nd December
Where: in front of the Cathedral
How to get there from the Barcelona Urbany Hostel: Red line of the metro to Plaça Catalunya and then walk through Portal del Angel to the Cathedral.