UNESCO adds to list of 'Intangible Cultural Heritage' of Humanity
UNESCO added 35 traditional practices to its Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The list serves to protect and raise awareness of important human customs. Below a selection of the new items:
Mongolia: Making Airag in Khokhuur
Airrag is a nutritious fermented beverage made from mare's milk. Made by churning fresh milk with a yeast starter inside a cowhide bag, called a khokhuur, the beverage plays a central role in the Mongolian diet and has deep symbolic significance for herders. The traditional technique for making Airrag has been passed down over thousands of years.
Thailand: Massage
The massage practice of Nuad Thai is an essential part of traditional Thai healthcare. Nuad Thai involves physically manipulating the body to rebalance the patient's energy and to treat illnesses caused by obstructions to energy flow. The tradition has its roots in ancient Thai peasant society.
Ethiopia: Epiphany
The colorful festival celebrates the baptism of Jesus Christ. On the eve of the main ceremony, parishioners escort the church tabot (a replica of the Ark of the Covenant) to a body of water before attending an all-night prayer and hymn service. In the morning, the tabot is returned to the church, accompanied by song, where the real festivities begin.
Austria, Greece, Italy: Transhumance
Every spring and autumn, herders drive thousands of animals along migratory routes through the Mediterranean and the Alps. Shepherds and their dogs push along their flocks from dawn to dusk, crossing both plains and mountains. Festivals accompany the tradition, marking the beginning and the end of the migration and serving as a way to pass the practice on to the next generation.
Iran: Crafting and playing Dotār
The two-stringed musical instrument has huge cultural significance for the Dotār region of Iran. Played at weddings and other ritual ceremonies, performers use the instrument to help them share epic, historical, and lyrical texts that pass on the ethnic history and identity of their communities.
Turkey: Traditional Turkish Archery
Turkish archery can be practiced both on foot and on horseback. Bows and arrows are adorned with calligraphy and other ornaments, the design itself playing a key part of the tradition. Turkish archers continue adapting the custom to stay relevant to the times: in recent years, a significant number of women have taken up the sport.