A VILLAGE in southern Spain wants UNESCO intangible heritage status for its pavement chatter on summer evenings – residents parking their chairs outside their front door and having an al fresco chin-wag.
Algar (Cádiz province), has just 1,400 residents, who almost certainly all know each other, but still find plenty to natter about when they pop outside every night – and mayor José Carlos Sánchez says this age-old tradition is 'the opposite of social media'.
Catching up on the day's events - Algar (Cádiz province) wants UNESCO status for its evening street chats (photo: Diario de Cádiz)
It's a respite from the heat, saves energy from not having the air-con on – and not using the internet – hones mental health and, for the elderly, cognitive skills, as they have to make an effort to remember the day's events and can let off steam to each other; combats social isolation, and promotes a community spirit, which is exactly what UNESCO looks for when awarding intangible heritage status for an activity, a craft or an event.
Perhaps Algar is just trying to get its name on the map – in practically every village and every neighbourhood, even in big cities, you'll see local people sitting outside their houses at night having a gossip; not just on the pavement, either: Many a driver has had to slow down in a side-street and politely ask a group of chilled-out senior citizens to move, don't rush, in your own time, sorry to disturb, etc.
But it's working, as Algar not only made national media back in August, attracting visitors and fame from as far away as Madrid and Barcelona, but even had a full article on their intangible heritage bid in The Guardian.
A smattering of the world's intangible heritage - but this collection is only the start of a very long list (photo: Yuvaias.com)
Of course, chatting in the street doesn't have to be the antithesis to social media. Not everyone is fortunate enough to live in the same town as their friends and family, so for some, the likes of Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram and Twitter really do keep them close to their loved ones and prevent isolation. But it's good to strike a balance where you're able to.
As you'll have seen from our article on Thursday this week, Spain's UNESCO intangible heritage list includes unique fiestas and shows, but other aspects of centuries-old tradition also make the list.
The thing with intangible heritage is that, by default, you can't see it. If it involves arts or crafts, you can see the result, but the 'heritage' bit is normally the process followed.
Other than the 11 pageants we mentioned earlier, nine other ancient customs make up Spain's UNESCO intangible heritage – here's what they're all about.
Manual limestone manufacturing, Morón de la Frontera, Sevilla province
Once upon a time, and still within living memory, limestone manufacturing – by hand and kiln – was a huge source of employment in Morón de la Frontera and kept the majority of the population in hay and oats for decades, if not centuries.
Along came industrial manufacturing, and machines and conveyor belts took over from human craftspeople; sure, they produced more limestone at a much lower cost, but without the love and pride involved.
Ancient knowledge of the manual, handcrafted methods became lost, rather than being passed down from parents to children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Limestone workers in Morón de la Frontera in a picture by Juan Carlos Vázquez in his Diario de Sevilla article Así se fabrica la cal de Morón
The Morón Limestone Kilns Cultural Association was set up in the early 2000s to revive the craft, improve working conditions for those who practise it, restore the kilns, and tell the world all about it.
A 'living museum' allows visitors to see the process for themselves, documentaries have been filmed, trade fairs organised, promotional activities outside the town – as far away as Morocco – carried out, and even an Iberian Limestone Congress held.
As well as successfully bringing a dead tradition back to life, the Association's work is at least a small cog in the growing 'sustainable construction' industry, which seeks to cut waste, emissions, water use, and mining for new materials when recycled versions work just as well.
Centre for traditional culture and school museum, Pusol, near Elche (Alicante province)
Think back to your early school days, and imagine if your regular classroom career took place in a museum instead of a grim educational institution with its traditional aroma of boiled cabbage, chalk and cloakrooms. No need for school trips, and escaping tiresome playground games would be easy enough by going poking around the corridors looking at fascinating old artefacts.
Read more at thinkSPAIN.com