November 16: Flamenco Day

There’s a day for everything: International Potato Tortilla Day, Infidelity Day (ironically on February 13, just one day before Valentine’s Day), Peculiar People Day, or even International No Diet Day (May 6, for those interested in celebrating). Flamenco, of course, deserves its own day as well.

Why November 16?

Flamenco Day, or “El Día del Arte Jondo,” is celebrated on November 16 to commemorate the date when UNESCO declared flamenco an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2010, recognizing the nomination presented by the Spanish Government, the Regional Government of Andalusia, and the Governments of Murcia and Extremadura. The UN organization acknowledged that flamenco fulfills the four essential requirements for inclusion on this list:

It is both traditional and contemporary, meaning it is alive. Flamenco is a living tradition passed down from the past and still practiced and renewed today.

It is integrative and contributes to social cohesion and community identity, helping people feel part of a collective.

The Cultural Significance of Flamenco

It represents a specific people and region and relies on those who understand the tradition, passing it to new communities and future generations.

It is community-based, meaning the community itself recognizes it as something uniquely their own, preserved and shared among its members.

Flamenco joins 20 other Spanish traditions designated as Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO, such as Transhumance, manual Bell Ringing, the Patios Festival of Córdoba, or the Castells of Catalonia. This distinction brings with it UNESCO’s responsibility for preservation.

The ever-creative flamenco community quickly spun this title: “Humanity is the heritage of flamenco,” a phrase often attributed to the flamenco singer from Granada, Enrique Morente. On the tenth anniversary of UNESCO’s recognition, November 16, 2020, the National Association of Flamenco Tablaos in Spain was founded.

How to Celebrate Flamenco Day?

The best way to celebrate Flamenco Day on November 16 is by attending a flamenco performance. In Andalusia, flamenco activities are held throughout the month in nearly every corner of the region, especially in flamenco peñas (associations).

One of the most original recent initiatives has been led by the singer from Huelva, Arcángel, who, in collaboration with the Andalusian Flamenco Institute, brought the Huelva-style fandango into classrooms. In November 2023, Arcángel invited all schools in Andalusia to participate in this tradition, teaching students the rhythm, lyrics, and melody of the famous Alosno fandango, one of the most emblematic styles within this branch of flamenco. He also recorded an educational video to facilitate learning, emphasizing flamenco’s significance in Andalusian culture and education.

Celebrations Across Spain

In Seville, free concerts are held annually at iconic locations around the city: in 2023, Esperanza Fernández and her family performed at the Muelle de la Sal; dancer José Suárez “Torombo” danced with a group of young people from the Tres Mil Viviendas in Plaza de San Francisco; and the day concluded with performances by singers José de la Tomasa, Nano de Jerez, and El Chozas at the Alameda de Hércules.

Here in Catalonia, flamenco dance teacher and cultural manager Noemí Osorio launched the Flamengi festival during Flamenco Week. The festival began in 2019 in Girona, later expanding to other towns and cities in the province (Blanes, Figueres, and La Bisbal). Along with a high-quality program, the festival includes interactive activities, such as a communal paella or a flash mob with local dance schools.

Just as Andalusia promotes flamenco knowledge from an early age, in Barcelona, a city with a vibrant flamenco community, the Tablao de Carmen celebrates this universal art every night. During these dates, come and experience flamenco at our Tablao.