L'Italo-Americano

L'Italo-Americano THURSDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2025 www.italoamericano.org 4 I t m a y f e e l l i k e a Christmas gift, but for centuries recipes, influences, and cre- a t i v i t y h a v e b e e n coming together at the stove t o p r o d u c e t h e d i s h e s o f Italian cuisine, now offi- c i a l l y r e c o g n i z e d b y UNESCO as an Intangi- ble Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The proclama- tion is more than a simple "tribute" to one of the most distinctive features of the Bel Paese, one widely acknowl- edged by both residents and visitors; rather, it confirms that food is not merely nour- ishment in Italy, but a core element of cultural identity. The recognition, to put it simply, celebrates not only a culinary heritage that, from North to South, reflects the long-standing Italian prac- tice of reworking local ingre- dients into symbols of place; it also affirms Italy's ability to conceive the table as a space for encounter, dia- logue, and sharing. T h e i n c l u s i o n o n UNESCO's list is also a land- mark achievement, as Ital- ian Cuisine between sus- tainability and biocultural diversity is the first gastro- nomic tradition in the world t o b e r e c o g n i z e d i n i t s e n t i r e t y . D i s h e s a n d recipes, in other words, are i n s e p a r a b l e f r o m s o c i a l practices and shared values, from the role that cooking plays within national cul- ture, and from the everyday approach with which mil- lions of Italians understand eating, sitting down at the table, and preparing food. It i s a n a c t i v i t y t h a t g o e s beyond satisfying hunger or m e e t i n g a b a s i c n e e d : i t expresses how ingredients are worked, and how being together – sharing meals as moments of encounter, dia- logue, and family life – is understood and lived. According to the rationale unanimously adopted at the t w e n t i e t h s e s s i o n o f t h e Intergovernmental Commit- tee, held in New Delhi, Ital- i a n c u i s i n e r e p r e s e n t s a "cultural and social blend of culinary traditions." It func- t i o n s a s a u n i v e r s a l l a n - guage, capable of expressing love and care for oneself and for others. At the same time, it is able to reconnect with deep cultural roots while continually renewing itself, acting as a bridge through w h i c h c o m m u n i t i e s c a n share their history and artic- ulate their relationship with the world around them. From UNESCO's perspec- tive, Italian cuisine is there- fore not simply a collection of dishes, but a living cultur- al and social practice. It is made up of rituals of prepar- ing and sharing food – such as Sunday lunch or family dinners – of the transmis- sion of knowledge across generations, of the gestures passed down by grandmoth- ers, and of respect for sea- sonal rhythms. It is sustain- a b l e i n i t s l o n g - s t a n d i n g habit of reusing leftovers and creating dishes from m o d e s t i n g r e d i e n t s ; i t i s grounded in the use of local products and in respect for local biodiversity; and it is socially inclusive, because the very act of cooking and sharing food creates bonds and a sense of belonging. T h e r e c o g n i t i o n a l s o m a r k s t h e t w e n t i e t h s t a r a d d e d t o I t a l y ' s r e c o r d . Since 2008, when the Sicil- ian Opera dei Pupi was first inscribed on UNESCO's list, the country has accumulat- ed many reasons for pride. This latest inclusion, made possible by years of work behind the scenes, also car- ries tangible economic a n d t o u r i s m - r e l a t e d b e n e f i t s , o u t c o m e s o n w h i c h m a n y a r e u n d e r - s t a n d a b l y f o c u s e d . T h e g r o u n d w o r k h a d a l r e a d y been laid even before the official recognition: in 2024, I t a l y ' s a g r i - f o o d e x p o r t s reached a record $80 bil- lion, an increase of more than 8 percent, and in the first eight months of 2025 they rose by a further 6 per- cent, confirming the grow- ing global demand for Ital- ian products. R e c o r d s , h o w e v e r , a r e meant to be broken. C u l t u r a l H e r i t a g e – " I n t a n g i b l e c u l t u r a l h e r - itage" refers to practices, r e p r e s e n t a t i o n s , e x p r e s - sions, knowledge, and skills, as well as the tools, objects, artifacts, and cultural spaces that communities recognize as part of their shared cul- tural legacy. It does not con- cern monuments alone, as o n e m i g h t i n s t i n c t i v e l y assume, but includes tradi- tions passed down through generations: language, per- forming arts, social prac- tices, rituals and festivities, t r a d i t i o n a l k n o w l e d g e , craftsmanship, and manual skills. This intangible her- itage is essential to safe - guarding cultural diversity; it defines the uniqueness of a people and a community a n d p r o v i d e s a c o u n t e r - UNESCO officially recognizes Italian Cuisine as intangible cultural heritage BARBARA MINAFRA NEWS & FEATURES TOP STORIES PEOPLE EVENTS CONTINUED TO PAGE 6 Not only delicious food but also its cultural meaning and history: this is what UNESCO awarded Italian cuisine for (Photo: Nitr/Dreamstime)

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