Italian cuisine nominated for UNESCO heritage. 120 tables to tell the Sunday ritual

Dozens of squares transformed into collective tables to celebrate Sunday lunch and support the nomination of Italian cuisine as UNESCO intangible heritage. This is the essence of the collective initiative dubbed “Sunday lunch - Italians at the table”: a moment of gathering and conviviality among citizens around traditional Italian dishes.

The initiative, jointly promoted by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forestry and the Ministry of Culture, with the support of ANCI (National Association of Italian Municipalities), aims to support the nomination of Italian cuisine as UNESCO intangible heritage, which will be decided by 24 countries on December 8.

For this reason, on September 21, over 120 tables were set up across Italy, from north to south, to tell the ritual of Sunday lunch.

“We are not nominating a way of cooking, even though all Italian regional cuisines would have the credentials to obtain recognition as UNESCO intangible heritage, we are nominating a ritual - said the Minister of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forestry Francesco Lollobrigida -. A ritual that belongs to all of us, which starts from the choice of foods, goes through cooking to arrive at our tables where we still talk about what we are eating. Italian cuisine is this, it is ancient knowledge passed down, it is the joy of being together, of meeting and keeping family and friendship ties alive. Sunday lunch is the highest expression of this cultural trait that the world envies us. Seeing so many people gathered in Italian squares will be a great demonstration of what cuisine means for Italians.”

“From haute cuisine to popular cuisine – commented the Minister of Culture Alessandro Giuli - Italy, due to its varied geographical characteristics and its multifaceted historical stratifications, is enriched by an extraordinary plurality of ingredients, dishes, occasions, and rituals related to eating. The history of food is the history of civilization and culture. Italian cuisine reflects society, history, and our relationship with the territory: in addition to being a uniquely Italian peculiarity whose primacy has long been recognized worldwide. Therefore, we wholeheartedly and actively support the nomination of Italian cuisine as UNESCO intangible heritage.”

“Food is a pillar of our identity and a powerful social glue - emphasized the President of ANCI and Mayor of Naples Gaetano Manfredi -. There is no meal without sharing, there is no table without a story to tell. Gathering to eat is a ritual that unites generations, families, and entire communities. It is from this deep bond that the idea of choosing Sunday lunch as a symbol to promote the nomination of Italian cuisine as UNESCO heritage arises. With this initiative, which involves various municipalities and territories, we want to emphasize that our cuisine is much more than a simple culinary art: it is an expression of a popular and accessible culture, which encompasses ancient gestures, rituals, and knowledge, enhancing the bond between the land and the people, and represents one of the main resources of our country's economy and culture.”

There were also moments of international conviviality. Italian cuisine is a common heritage for over 60 million compatriots living abroad and for many foreigners who are inspired by the Italian lifestyle. The initiative also involved our embassies in the cities of London, Paris, and New York, where food and local traditions will be the protagonists.

The day was accompanied by the anthem Vai Italia, written by Mogol and performed by Al Bano together with the Antoniano choir and the boys from Caivano. A soundtrack designed to give voice to the pride of a country that has chosen to tell its story through its table.