Intangible heritage meets the present. A living testimony that shapes tradition and builds the future through a case study

All children need to connect with one another, form a peer group where they can share knowledge, and explore the unknown. This initiative takes place in Villafrades de Campos, a small village in what is known as "empty Spain." This tiny town in Castilla y León carefully preserves its traditions, passing them down every summer to the children who visit. Through La Escuelita, a program run by the cultural association El Cordón, young participants learn to dance with sticks and sing old verses—games once played by today's grandparents, which over time have become folklore and tradition. The result is a narrative that weaves together the testimonies of local residents with visual storytelling, capturing part of this intangible heritage and the way it is passed down through generations.