News

Spain''s flamenco dance and the Mediterranean diet have joined the list of intangible cultural heritage maintained by the U.N. body that is mandated to protect and promote culture.

The two items were added to the list during a meeting of UNESCO in Kenya on Tuesday.

UNESCO''s Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage also adopted the gastronomic meal of the French, a customary social practice for celebrating events such as births, weddings, and birthdays over a festive meal. Also joining the list is Chinese acupuncture and moxibustion, a traditional Chinese medicinal therapy that uses herbs.

Before Tuesday there were 166 items from 77 countries on the heritage list.

Stomping its heels with joy

Spain''s flamenco world is stomping its heels with joy that UNESCO has declared the Spanish genre of music and dance an art form the world should treasure.

Performers of the booming style of song and guitar-strumming accompanied by rapid-fire clapping and heel-clicking called the honor long overdue. Flamenco singer Chiquetete said the news triggered "an explosion of joy" in Seville, capital of the southern Andalusia region where flamenco is deeply rooted in the culture.

Flamenco historians say the genre first emerged in Spain in the 18th century as an outlet for poor people to express everything from sorrow to happiness to faith.