Now an enterprising village in southern Spain is seeking to have the tradition recognised by the United Nations as a cultural treasure. The aim is to protect the centuries-old custom from the encroaching threat of social media and television, said José Carlos Sánchez, the mayor of Algar, a town of about 1,400 people. The quiet town of Algar, near Cádiz in southern Spain, has been inundated with media coverage. “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 and help.”Residents in the small village have reacted warmly to his bid for world heritage status, he said.

Source: The Guardian August 08, 2021 11:46 UTC