The group El Cachondeo maintains its presence in the Colla del Caracol four decades after its founding, with a structure that remains closely linked to the family that started it in the early eighties. The group, legalized in 1983, now brings together about 130 people and has participated in all editions of the festival.
Its continuity rests on a formula that is unusual for entities that grow over time. While the number of members increases, the direction and a good part of its internal memory remain in the hands of several generations of the same family, which each year pays tribute to the founders to preserve the group's legacy.
Mariona Genís has presided over a club of 130 people for seven years
Mariona Genís, the current president and third generation at the helm of El Cachondeo, took over the presidency seven years ago after her father's tenure as captain of the group. The board of directors is mostly made up of members of the same family, including cousins and siblings.
Within the club, the Lozano family remains one of the oldest and largest. This family weight is linked to the origin of the group, created by a group of friends who were fond of excursions, camping, and sports.
The group was legalized in 1983 and since then has been present in all editions of the Colla del Caracol. This journey has allowed for internal continuity between founders, children, and grandchildren.
The memory of Vicky and Isidoro continues to mark the preparations
Genís attributes part of this continuity to the role of her grandparents, Vicky and Isidoro, whom she identifies as two of the group's founders. The president recalls that her grandmother took care of a large part of the festival's preparation months before each edition.
"My grandmother Vicky and my grandfather Isidoro were some of the founders of the group. Vicky was the soul of the preparations; months before, she would call all of us cousins to choose the fabric for the robes and then she would sew them by hand for each of us. She also made the alioli for the meals so that we all felt at home" - Mariona Genís, president of El Cachondeo
This memory coexists with a group life built from childhood in La Conya, where several families shared space during the celebration. The president frames part of the bond that the club still maintains between its older and younger members within this context.
"We all grew up together in La Conya. We still remember when our parents would park the carts next to each other so we would keep each other company while they enjoyed the party" - Mariona Genís, president of El Cachondeo
The families of the group also hold an annual tribute to the founders. The event is part of the internal transmission of a club that was born in the early eighties, was legalized in 1983, and today brings together approximately 130 people.