Not For Natives

Question

I love the phrase "we live and learn" and today I learnt of something new concerning Spain.

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Below is a Catalan noun and I am interested if anyone knows what the word means.

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Please, please, please do not cheat and "google" it. Or google it if you like but then keep the answer to yourself. I am interested in non natives who have already heard about this word.

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The word is

Caganer

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Edit

I do not want an explanation of what the word means, only if a member is aware of the meaning. Please look at Kevin's answer.

I'm surprised you posted this, hehe. - lazarus1907, Jan 4, 2011

Answer 1

Si no supiera que fue catalán, pensaría que fue algo relacionado con aquella palabra vulgar en español.

Answer 2

Heidi, having now depicted the exact intention of the word, I close this post, hehe. Interesting to note that the figure is normally found in a "corner".

No se encuentra en un lugar destacado. Hoy en dia los "caganers" tienen imágines de personajes famosos, por ejemplo, Barak Obama, Hugo Chávez etc. Colocar esta figura en el Belén, traía suerte y alegría.

Answer 3

Pesta said

I instinctively knew what department this word belonged to, when I saw the author (No offense intended, Eddy!!! smile hehehe)

This definitely wasn't my intention. It was to point out the fact that such a figure was used in what can only be considered one of the holiest of events in the Christian calendar.

Eddy whay was my post deleted when I had intentionally avoided using any offensive word ? - FELIZ77, Jan 4, 2011

Answer 4

Never heard of it. Irrespective of what it means I'm going to use it from now on to refer to those who have just '****** ***** *************'. Moreover, in the true spirit of shartenfreude, I shall laugh and point at the unfortunate whilst loudly declaring: caganer.

schadenfreude - Sabor, Jan 4, 2011

Shartenfreude comes from the verb to shart and the noun schadenfreude. It is very specific in its use. - afowen, Jan 4, 2011

Sorry, too much information, hehe. - Eddy, Jan 4, 2011

Eddy, you've edited my post so that it no longer makes sense. Undercrackers is a non-offensive, vaguely comical term for underpants and the verb 'to soil' is not rude in the slightest. You make it appear as though I had written something offensive! - afowen, Jan 4, 2011

That's not my intention. Please look at the edit on my post. - Eddy, Jan 4, 2011

Plus the fact your thread was not offensive. - Eddy, Jan 4, 2011

Come on... irrespective of the edit to your question, replacing my words with asterisks implies that I'd written something offensive. I know that there is a need to police the site but there is a big difference between being actively offensive... - afowen, Jan 4, 2011

... and alluding to something that may create an unsavoury image. I think all those with editing power need exercise that power with caution... - afowen, Jan 4, 2011

Answer 5

El c***dor in México. I definitely am not a native spanish speaker, I do know the meaning, but i will not upset the thread by answering. I do question the use of the word here in the forum as we typically avoid such things.They are easy enough to research if one must know them. I have heard from friends returning from Spain that such words are more commonly used.

Answer 6

Love it! Even more accurate than rug rat.

Answer 7

I instinctively knew what department this word belonged to, when I saw the author (No offense intended, Eddy!!! hehehe). It immediately brought to mind a certain statue in Belgium, which is easy to find by googling images. Is there a spiritual relationship between the two?

Answer 8

Now that's a tradition I had not heard of.

Join the club. - Eddy, Jan 4, 2011

Answer 9

Shouldn't it be reflexive though? (Does Catalan even use the reflexive?)

It's not a verb. It's a noun. - Eddy, Jan 4, 2011

Answer 10

I don't really know what it is....could it be a gift? A present for a loved one? I'm not really sure.