The Tragachicos of Zaragoza and Its Urban Legend
In Zaragoza's Parque Grande José Antonio Labordeta there is a unique concrete sculpture popularly known as the Tragachicos. This figure, which represents a child's head with a very wide-open mouth, functions in practice as a slide for the little ones. However, a persistent urban legend warns of a supposed hidden danger inside it. 👻
The Work and Its Playful Purpose
The artist Francisco Rallo Lahoz created this piece in 1986 to integrate it into the park's children's play area. Its design invites climbing and sliding, fusing art and fun in an open space for everyone. Despite its recreational function, the shape of the head and its cavernous mouth, which acts as the entrance to the slide, stimulated the collective imagination and gave rise to the supernatural story that now surrounds it.
Main characteristics of the sculpture:- Construction material: concrete.
- Main function: to act as a children's slide.
- Distinctive element: a large open mouth.
The legend arises as a cautionary tale to prevent children from venturing alone.
How the Myth Is Born and Persists
There are no official records confirming strange events linked to this sculpture. Those who study these phenomena believe the story was born as a preventive tale to keep children from straying from their parents' supervision. This type of narrative, present in many cultures, is passed down by word of mouth and modified over the years, ensuring that the Tragachicos retains an aura of mystery decades after its installation.
Reasons why the legend persists:- Oral transmission between generations.
- Constant adaptation of the story over time.
- Use by some parents as a tool to prevent.
The Contrast Between Myth and Reality
While the real risk might be slipping and getting a scratch, some parents still tell the story to instill a bit of caution, or perhaps to relive the chill they felt in their own childhood. The sculpture remains a meeting and play point, where art coexists with an urban myth that has managed to survive the passage of time. 🎭