OF LITTLE PEOPLE AND ‘THE CRAPPER’

(CLICK ON PICTURES TO ENLARGE)
Spanish Christmas tradition includes a Nativity Scene in almost every home. From the very elaborate to the simplest placing of a manger with the three main figures. In Jimena, the ‘main’ traditional belén, as it’s called, is set up at the Pensioners’ Day Centre thanks to the efforts of Pedro Gómez Moreno (see earlier article here), who is modest enough to say that he couldn’t have done so over the years without help from a string of people contributing to it.

That must certainly be true, as the diversity of figures made from anything from wood to clay will attest.

An explanation of the tradition would take up a great deal of space, so we’ll try to summarize.
Preparations usually begin early in November, when the figures are dusted down. The land is laid, on the floor at the Day Centre, though sometimes on a very large table or platform such as at the Ayuntamiento in Algeciras, and a river course set out, usually with a mountain scene behind. It all depends on where it is set up, but very often the river runs thanks to a pump and a bucket or three cleverly hidden away. Moss usually plays a part, and if you’re observant you will notice people carrying the stuff from the countryside to their homes (by the way, you’re not allowed to take it out of the Nature Park, so be careful).

The Day Centre’s belén usually includes a market, an agricultural scene, various buildings, the Nativity itself of course,

and ‘The Crapper’ (often called el cagón, which is one of the less descriptive of his names - and, yes, he is always male). Children have fun trying to find him as he’s usually hidden (try it, kids!). Prospero has been unable to find out where this last ‘tradition’ comes from, but the figure is present in almost all the beléns he’s seen. If anybody knows anything about it, please let us know.
Another tradition has the Reyes Magos (Three Kings, or Magi) approaching the Nativity over a period of time, often from quite a distance. The pieces are moved closer each day and arrive at their destination on Christmas Day. However, at the Day Centre this year, they have opted for placing them at the Nativity from the start, which might have something to do with bad backs…

It’s worth a visit and Pedro and his cohorts would appreciate it.