So, what is UNESCO? It is an international organization that deals with everything related to culture, education, science, and communication. The full name of this organization is “United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization,” but we more often hear the abbreviation UNESCO.
What does UNESCO stand for? In English, it is “United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.” In fact, UNESCO is engaged in the protection of our shared cultural and natural heritage. For example, if there is an ancient city or national park that has great significance for humanity, UNESCO can declare it a World Heritage site. This means it needs to be preserved for future generations.
The intangible heritage of UNESCO consists of traditions, customs, knowledge, rituals, festivals, crafts, or forms of art that are passed down from generation to generation and are part of the cultural identity of a particular people.
It is also referred to as the intangible cultural heritage of humanity.
What can be considered intangible heritage:
- oral tradition (tales, songs, legends);
- performing arts (music, dance, theatrical forms);
- customs and rituals (weddings, holidays, ceremonies);
- knowledge about nature and the universe (traditional medicine, ecological knowledge);
- traditional crafts (embroidery, pottery, blacksmithing, etc.).
Examples from Ukraine in the UNESCO list:
- Cossack songs of Dnipropetrovsk region
- Petrykivka painting
- The tradition of making borscht (recognized in 2022 as an element requiring immediate protection due to the war)
