For a few years now, among urbanites there has been a growing trend of going to the mountains to look for something. This means that Catalonia is now divided into two camps: those who believe that we must go looking for the trunk in question - to add more interest to that tradition - and those who consider that it is enough, every December, to sneak it out of the closet. where they kept it the previous year.
The abundance of fathers, mothers and children who these days walk through the forests in search of their uncle means that in some places the crowds are considerable. Foresighted parents even go with a map that their uncle has sent them on WhatsApp. The map indicates the exact place where the barretinated trunk awaits them. Because – this is another one – the guy they discover right in the middle of the forest is anthropomorphic, with a barre, an idiot's face and two front legs.
As there are many short people, to prevent risks, Protecció Civil and the Rural Agents body have published several recommendations to go looking for them safely: that adults take care of the little ones, that they wear well shoes, that they find out what the weather will be like and that they do not take protected plants. They don't say anything about going with chainsaws or not.
From being an exclusively rural tradition, one day the tio became a custom that urbanites embraced with delight. This is where the problems began. The last one I have news of is that new character, the Oncle Buscacall, an individual with a sweater made of tree leaves and a red barretina (the barretina that is never missing, above all!), who lives in the forest and encourages the arrival of the tions. He is the one who takes them down from the trees and delivers them either directly to the children or to the stores that sell them. He is the boss of the Tionera mafia network, without having registered under any heading or paying taxes. A real model for children, a new hero to imitate.
