Preservation of Intangible Cultural Heritage: Examples from Around the World
Cultural heritage is a critical aspect of a society’s identity, providing essential insights into its values, traditions, customs, beliefs, and language. Despite the importance of cultural heritage, some forms of cultural heritage, such as intangible cultural heritage, are at risk of being lost entirely. Intangible cultural heritage includes practices, expressions, knowledge, skills, and traditions that are transmitted from generation to generation within a community. Preserving intangible cultural heritage is vital to maintain a community’s identity, promote intercultural dialogue, and foster social cohesion.
The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) define intangible cultural heritage as “the practices, representations, expressions, knowledge, skills, and instruments associated with a culture.” UNESCO created the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2003, which aims to protect intangible cultural heritage worldwide. The Convention establishes measures for identifying, safeguarding, and promoting intangible cultural heritage, including research, documentation, and community involvement.
Many communities worldwide actively preserve their intangible cultural heritage. For example, Mexico’s Day of the Dead is a secular holiday that honors the dead. Each region of Mexico has its own unique tradition of celebrating the holiday, such as building ofrendas (altars) with flowers, food, and candles, and the creation of skull-shaped candies made of sugar. The holiday serves as a time for family and friends to remember and celebrate loved ones.
Another example is the traditional Swiss art of alphorn playing. The alphorn is a musical instrument made of wood, over four meters long, and traditionally used by Swiss mountain farmers to communicate between each other across mountains. Despite the decline in its use, the alphorn has gained popularity in recent years and is now recognized as a national symbol of Switzerland.
Similarly, the Japanese art of Kabuki is a traditional form of theater that began in the early Edo period (1603-1868). The plays employ stylized acting, vibrant costumes, and makeup to bring historical, mythical, and contemporary stories to life. Despite its decline due to the growing popularity of Western-style theater, Kabuki is still performed regularly in Japan and is recognized as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage.
In conclusion, preserving intangible cultural heritage is critical to ensure the uniqueness, diversity, and resilience of a community’s identity. Many communities worldwide actively preserve their intangible cultural heritage, leveraging diverse strategies and approaches to ensure its transmission to future generations. UNESCO’s Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage provides a framework for identifying, safeguarding, and promoting intangible cultural heritage worldwide. By safeguarding intangible cultural heritage, we can strengthen cultural diversity, promote mutual respect, and foster social cohesion worldwide.
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