Shakira’s astonishing trajectory continues, from Hollywood honey to Catalonian crapper in just one month.
The pint-sized starlet and her new love Pique have been afforded one of Spain’s highest cultural honors – to be ceramically depicted taking a dump.
Known as “caganers”, most polite translation “defecators,” models of people in the act of relieving themselves colonically have been a traditional Catalonian nativity decoration since at least the 18th century.
The figurines historically took the form of a shepherd or farmer, but in recent years celebrities, politicians and sport stars have become the norm – and Shakira and Pique’s models have become this year’s biggest (s)hit.
Less than a month after being commemorated on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame, and stealing the show at the Latin Grammys, Shakira, and her bathroom habits, are taking Spain by storm.
Festive shoppers have been flocking to the Fira de Santa Llucia, a traditional Christmas market in the Spanish capital of Barcelona, to snap up this retail hot (or should we say steaming?) potato.
Even Barcelona’s mayor, Xavier Trias, can be found with his pants down on the market stalls of the Catalonian city. But far from being offended, he fully understands the honor the artistic recreation bestows, pointing out “If you’re not (a caganer), then you don’t exist.”
Shakira and her Barca footballer boyfriend Pique join a dazzling array of esteemed names to be part of the crapping cadre – Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, Luis da Silva, Darth Vader and Homer Simpson have all relieved themselves in the name of Christmas spirit.
Someone should have a word with the caganer makers about the state of Colombian politicians – a shared chuckle over their small forms getting back to basics together could do wonders for relations between Santos and Uribe.