Village asks Unesco to save art of alfresco conversation

A SPANISH village near Cadiz with a population of just 1,400 people is seeking to preserve a centuries-old tradition of “chatting in the open air” by applying to Unesco to have the evening ritual recognised as culturally significant.

José Carlos Sánchez, the mayor of Algar, says that the rise of social media is threatening “face-to-face conversations” and that fewer people are grabbing a chair, sitting outside their front door and gossiping with friends and neighbours.

“We want to return to having everyone outside of their doors alfresco instead of scrolling through Facebook or watching television inside their homes,” he said in an interview with The Guardian.

“Part of the population, the elderly, kept the tradition alive, but a larger part of the population did not. Our motto is that social networks should not end one of our most popular traditions,” he added.

The Unesco list of intangible cultural heritage items includes couscous from the Maghreb, a domino game from Mongolia called “knucklebone shooting” and Kochari – a traditional group dance from Armenia.

The benefits of the evening chats in Algar are multifaceted, according to Mr Sánchez, who says that the practice improves community spirit and can even save residents money if they switch off their air conditioning while they are outside.

He also says it can improve the mental health of lonely locals, especially

‘We want to return to having everyone out of doors instead of scrolling through Facebook inside’

those who have been isolated during the pandemic.

“Residents come out onto the street and instead of feeling that they’re alone, what they get is a therapy session,” said the 38-year-old.

“They share their stories or the problems they’re going through and the neighbours try to help.”

The application to Unesco could take years, but Mr Sánchez is pleased that the local chats have prompted a national conversation about his town.