Attention! Three, two, one… now! The traffic light has turned red, like Santa’s suit. And the craziness is unleashed in Paseo de Gràcia in Barcelona. Hundreds of people who were waiting huddled on the sidewalk rush to get down to the playing field, that is, to the road. Alone, as a couple, in groups… there are combinations for all tastes. What never fails is a mobile phone in one’s hand, either in one’s own, to immortalize the moment with an individual or collective selfie, or in the hand of a portraitist friend who sometimes has infinite patience. Of course, in the thousands, if not millions, of photographs that have been taken on Passeig de Gràcia since November 23rd from 5.30 p.m., the Christmas lights that illuminate the street appear twinkling in all of them as if it was a layer of stars, a milky way of leds for a street that celebrates its 200th anniversary this year.
People’s slides to invade the roadway have not gone unnoticed on social media. He already has that much mobile phone in his hand. And some videos have already gone viral on TikTok, where comments with little Christmas spirit abound. From “what a shame of people” to “you can’t be more stupid”.
It is clear that when this light decoration, as simple as it is spectacular, was designed, little did they think that it would end up becoming one of the city’s Christmas claims year after year. And it’s free for Barcelona residents and tourists, which is a lot. Maybe that’s why, because he didn’t think about it. But given the success, it wouldn’t be wrong to consider some measure next year that would allow the intrepid models and photographers to go out into the arena without the risk of being bitten by a lion. Because more than one driver roars, especially bus drivers, a social type with a public esteem that does not admit middle ground: either they are adored because they wait for you when they see you coming running, or they are hated because they activate the closing alarm of doors before anyone can get off. The schedule of the attraction, moreover, is fair. The lights are turned off, like everyone else, at 10 pm on weekdays and at 11 pm on Fridays and Saturdays for ecological reasons. We know we have to save energy. But it’s Christmas! And as one of the comments on the networks says about the phenomenon: “Yes, we are crazy but happy once a year”. And once a year, it doesn’t hurt.
