UNESCO published its first list of protected places in 1978. At that time, the organization designated only cultural and natural sites. To date, there are 1,154 monuments inscribed in the World Heritage List across 167 countries. In 2008, UNESCO decided to expand its reach and created a List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The list includes performing arts, rituals, traditions, social practices, knowledge, and crafts. But it goes well beyond festivals and dances. Here are 10 curious traditions inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
1. Camel racing, UAE and Oman
Inscribed in 2020.
Camel racing is a social practice and festive heritage that is strictly linked to the nomadic lifestyle of the Bedouin society. Its preparation involves several stages. First of all, camels are selected based on type, origin and age and are fed according to a specific special diet. Then, the animals practice together on the racetrack and are trained to take part in the races. The race normally involves between 15 to 20 camels in each round and takes place on a specific field under the supervision of a committee of experts. Camels’ races are the product of community traditions and customs that are transmitted thanks to the efforts of community representatives, government institutions, specialized centres and the federation of racing and clubs.
2. Nar Bayrami pomegranate festivity and culture, Azerbaijan
Inscribed in 2020.
Nar Bayrami is a festival that is held each year in October/November in the Goychay region of Azerbaijan. The festivity is a celebration of the pomegranate, its uses and its symbolic meaning. The culture surrounding the pomegranate includes practices, knowledge, and skills related to its cultivation. In Azerbaijan, pomegranate is used in a wide variety of culinary recipes, as well as a decoration, in myths and storytelling. Symbolically, this fruit represents long-term productivity, abundance and a carrier of energy. It is also a symbol of love, passion and eternity.
3. Gingerbread craft, Northern Croatia
Inscribed in 2010.
Gingerbread making made its first appearance in European monasteries during the Middle Ages and then came to Northern Croatia. This tradition has been passed from generation to generation until present time. Initially, it was only performed by men, but today there are also many women performing this craft. Gingerbread making is a complicated process that requires skills and speed. The recipe includes simple ingredients: flour, sugar, water, baking soda and spices. Once the ingredients are mixed together, the gingerbread is shaped into moulds and baked. Once dried, it is painted with edible colours. Decorations and colors differ depending on the craftsperson, but they normally include pictures, mirrors and messages. The most popular decoration is the heart, which is normally used for weddings.
4. Nuad Thai, traditional massage, Thailand
Inscribed in 2019.
Nuad Thai is a traditional Thai massage which is now a fundamental part of Thailand’s traditional healthcare. The massage is a manual therapy during which the practitioner rebalances the patient’s body, energy and structure, and normalizes the four body elements (earth, water, wind and fire). This kind of non-medical remedy is believed to treat illnesses associated with the obstruction of energy flow along the body. Nuad Thai practitioners perform a variety of techniques using their hands, elbows, feet and knees, combined with the use of herbal hot compresses to reduce inflammation.
5. Culinary tradition of Nsima, Malawi
Inscribed in 2017.
Nsima is a culinary and dietary Malawian tradition based on a sort of thick porridge prepared with maize flour. Its preparation requires specific skills and knowledge, including pounding the maize into flour, selecting the food to accompany the porridge, and serving the dish. Eating Nsima is a common tradition in Malawian families that involves all members. Young girls learn to pound maize or sift flour, while boys learn to hunt animals to provide accompaniments for Nsima.
6. Yoga, India
Inscribed in 2016.
Yoga’s philosophy aims at unifying the mind with the body and soul to improve mental, spiritual and physical wellbeing. This ancient practice consists of several poses, meditation, breath control, and other practices that help practitioners achieve self-realization, and liberate their body and mind from pain and suffering. In India, the values of yoga play a vital role in the community as it influences various aspects of the country’s society. It is practised by young and old men and women of any class or religion.
7. Practices concerning the argan tree, Morocco
Inscribed in 2014.
Argan trees grow in the Arganeraie Biosphere Reserve located in south-west Morocco. There, rural women and sometimes even men know specific methods to extract argan oil from the fruit of the tree. The argan oil is then used for cooking, medicines and cosmetics. The process of extraction involves different tasks (e.g. harvesting the fruit, drying, pulping, milling, mixing, etc.) that are transmitted through non-formal education. The mill used in the process is manufactured by local craftspeople, while the mixing requires a mindful gradual addition of specific quantities of warm water.
8. Knowledge of the jaguar shamans of Yuruparí, Colombia
Inscribed in 2011.
The knowledge of the jaguar shamans – including mythical and cosmological structures – are a solid heritage of the ethnic groups that live along the Pirá Paraná River. The Pirá Paraná is at the heart of an area that is considered the territory of the jaguars of Yuruparí. The area includes several sacred sites that are believed to contain spiritual energy that nurtures all living creatures in the world. Through the performance of specific rituals with songs and dances, the shamans draw the community together, prevent sickness and revitalize nature. One of these rituals is called “Hee Biki.” During this ritual, shamans transmit guidelines for maintaining the health of the people and the territory to male children. The ritual is considered a bridge from childhood to adulthood.
9. Vanuatu Sand Drawings, Vanuatu
Inscribed in 2008.
Vanuatu is an archipelago situated in the South Pacific that boasts a unique tradition of sand drawing. This tradition is an artistic expression that consists of drawing with one finger on a ground covered with sand, volcanic ash, or clay. The result is a symmetrical composition of geometric patterns. This tradition is a means of communication among members of 80 different language groups living in the islands of the archipelago. The drawings aim at transmitting different information on local histories, cosmologies, farming techniques, architectural and craft design, and choreographic patterns. For this reason, a sand drawer must have strong graphic patterns, as well as a deep understanding of the significance behind these drawings and the ability to explain their meaning.
10. Horseback shrimp fishing, Belgium
Inscribed in 2013.
Horseback shrimp fishing is an activity exclusively performed in Oostduinkerke, a place on the coast of West Flanders. There, twelve families of horseback shrimpers collect shrimp twice a week (except in winter months) as well as during special occasions thanks to the help of strong Brabant horses. While walking in the water, the horses pull nets that are held open by two wooden boards. The shrimps jump into the net thanks to the vibrations created by a chain dragged over the sand. This method of shrimping requires different techniques (e.g. weaving nets), as well as specific knowledge of Brabant draft horses.
