They continue to be highly sought-after figures to decorate nativity scenes, especially in Catalonia, although they are increasingly given as gifts and end up in nativity scenes outside Catalan lands. And, for yet another Christmas, there were more than one of these figures which surprised, even “devastated” sales. It’s the fever of ‘caganer’this figure which traditionally represents a Catalan peasant with a barretine red and with his pants down, “immortalized” at the very moment of defecating. Many personalities and celebrities have already been sculpted, but this year it seems that the most requested figure does not imitate a human person. And this year, during the Christmas campaign, an unexpected character won the title of bestseller.
It’s CAT, the official mascot of FC Barcelonawhich dominated sales during these festive weeks. This piece has surpassed other classic and current representations, consolidating the close relationship between Catalan popular culture and the world of sport within the nativity scene. Marc Alós, sculptor and co-owner of the company Caganer.com, expressed his surprise at the massive success of this figure. Although the piece premiered while the final season was already underway, it wasn’t until late 2025 that audiences began demanding it en masse so that it became the biggest demand of the campaign. The figure managed to connect with the feeling of Barcelona supporters in a year marked by optimism after the arrival of Hansi Filmthe German coach.
Precisely, the FC Barcelona coach was one of the novelties of the “caganers” which were exhibited in numerous stores and stands in different markets where you can obtain the Catalan figure, alongside other characters such as the singer. Aitana. Behind the sales ranking are other figures already common in the company’s commercial success. Among them, the young footballer stands out Lamine Yamal and the President of the United States, Donald Trumpwhose version continues to be one of the most requested year after year. In addition to these current characters, there are Christmas classics like the Grinch and the traditional representation of a “tío”, which maintain a constant appeal to all types of audiences. The main objective of these figures, their sculptors insist, is not mockery, but rather to pay an artisanal homage through clay to personalities who have marked the contemporary history of various regions.
Without counting the traditional caganer of the peasant à barretine, which continues to be the undisputed sales leader, the figure of Donald Trump It holds the title of bestseller of recent years. Next comes the representation of Leo Messi with the Ballon d’Or, demonstrating that political and sporting icons are those who arouse the most interest in the long term. In fact, the sports sector has been particularly prolific this year with the incorporation of new members into the FC Barcelona team. In addition to those already mentioned, the figures for Fermín López, Pau Cubarsí, Pedri and Raphinha. The company seeks to recreate complete teams, as it did during the era of Pep Guardiola, taking advantage of the fact that footballers generally have a very powerful commercial hook.
Culture and entertainment also brought notable successes to sales this 2025 season. In addition to Aitanaother characters that have been seen and purchased are the Catalan musician Joan Dausà, as well as characters from the world of comics and fiction such as Mortadelo, the xenomorph from Alien and the popular toy Labubu. In fact, the category of comics and cartoons has become one of the bestsellers, surpassed only by depictions of real-life characters. In the political field, the most international novelty was that of the new mayor of New York, Zohran Mamdaniwho won the November 2025 elections. Alongside him, other important additions were the mayor of Ripoll, Silvia Orriolsand the dad Leo XIV. These figures reflect the desire to always be attentive to global trends and political changes to season sales and attract a very heterogeneous clientele.
Luck and prosperity
The symbolism of these small statuettes goes well beyond the purely eschatological, since they represent fertility, luck and prosperity for the home. Traditionally, the act of defecating is believed to return nutrients to the soil, thus ensuring a good harvest for the following year and health for the family. This deep connection with nature and the cycle of life is what makes the “caganer” an essential piece of Catalan nurseries for centuries. Concretely, the origins of this figure lie at the end of the 17th century or the beginning of the 18th century, coinciding with the Baroque period and its taste for extreme realism and scenes of manners. What began as a humble peasant has evolved into a humorous reflection of today’s society, allowing for characters as diverse as Rocky Balboa or the Pope coexist in the birth scene. It is a unique way in which citizens claim their identity and the balance between the sacred and the everyday.
Joke or irreverencethe truth is that more and more popular personalities end up occupying a privileged place in nurseries. Among the figures sculpted in recent years are Michael Jackson, Harry Potter, Picasso, Carles Puigdemont, Mariano Rajoy, Barack Obama, Angela Merkel, Silvio Berlusconi, Vladimir Putin, Pope Francis, Barbie, Shrek, Pocoyo, Hello Kitty, Da Vinci, Marco Antonio, Mbappe, Lady Gaga, Rosalía, Elton John, Salvador Dalí, Guardiola, Zapatero, Cristiano Ronaldo, Queen Elizabeth of England, Andreu. Buenafuente, Rafa Nadal, Esperanza Aguirre, Hugo Chávez, Letizia Ortiz or Carla Bruni. Made of clay, by hand and one by one, the figurines guarantee the maintenance of a tradition which combines the ancestral with the most fiercely modern. With a catalog that continues to expand, whether through the figure of a pop star, a central defender or even a mascot.
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