Britain's May joins 'pooper' party as Catalan figurine

Clay "caganers" figures are displayed at the Santa Llucia Christmas market in central Barcelona, Spain, December 14, 2018. EUTERS/Albert Gea

TORROELLA DE MONTGRI, Spain (Reuters) - Britain's Theresa May has joined the ranks of the famous and powerful in Catalonia as a traditional Christmas figurine.

But with her dignity dented by widespread condemnation of her Brexit plan, she may consider the recognition a mixed blessing.

The hand-painted clay statuettes, known as "caganers" or "poopers", are depicted with their pants down. The longstanding tradition in the north eastern Spanish region is for them to be hidden among nativity scenes, to be spotted by family and friends.

Clay "caganers" figures representing U.S. President Donald Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, British Prime Minister Theresa May, Chinese President Xi Jinping, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Queen Elizabeth II, French President Emmanuel Macron, and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez are displayed at the Santa Llucia Christmas market in central Barcelona, Spain, December 14, 2018. REUTERS/Albert Gea

The British prime minister, along with a Ziggy-Stardust-era David Bowie, are notable additions this year to a series on sale at Barcelona's Christmas markets that also includes U.S. President Donald Trump and German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

May's struggle to orchestrate Britain's exit from the European Union made her a target for the makers of the around 10-centimetre-tall (4-inch) statues. But Trump and Merkel remain customers' favorites.

"When the Trump (figurine) came out in the New York Times we received more than a thousand orders in one day in the United States," the owner of caganer.com, Sergi Alos, said from his workshop in the small Catalan town of Torroella de Montgri.

A man paints a "caganer", or defecator, depicting British Prime Minister Theresa May in a pottery in Torroella de Montgri, near Girona, Spain, December 14, 2018. REUTERS/Albert Gea

The defecating statuettes are believed locally to bring prosperity for the coming year, and this year's roster also includes jailed pro-independence leaders awaiting trial for their part in Catalonia's 2017 secession referendum.

But much of the focus is now abroad, with the United States accounting for some 40 percent of sales, according to caganer.com.

A man makes a "caganer", or defecator, depicting former Catalan president Carles Puigdemont with a mould in a pottery in Torroella de Montgri, near Girona, Spain, December 14, 2018. REUTERS/Albert Gea

(Reporting by Pilar Suarez; Writing by Paul Day; Editing by Ingrid Melander and John Stonestreet)

Clay "caganers" figures representing French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, British Prime Minister Theresa May and Russian President Vladimir Putin are displayed at the Santa Llucia Christmas market in central Barcelona, Spain, December 14, 2018. REUTERS/Albert Gea

A man makes a "caganer", or defecator, depicting former Catalan president Carles Puigdemont with a mould, in a pottery in Torroella de Montgri, near Girona, Spain, December 14, 2018. REUTERS/Albert Gea

Clay "caganers" figures representing a yellow ribbon (the symbol used to demand the release of jailed Catalonian politicians) is sold at the Santa Llucia Christmas market in central Barcelona, Spain, December 14, 2018. REUTERS/Albert Gea

Clay "caganers" figures representing FC Barcelona's players Lionel Messi, Sergi Roberto and Luis Suarez are displayed at the Santa Llucia Christmas market in central Barcelona, Spain, December 14, 2018. REUTERS/Albert Gea