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List of Intangible Cultural Heritage elements in Northern Europe

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Northern Europe comprises Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Sweden, and the United Kingdom,[1] and the following dependent territories: the Faroe Islands controlled by Denmark, Åland controlled by Finland, Svalbard and Jan Mayen controlled by Norway, and the British Crown Dependencies, Guernsey and Jersey, and the Isle of Man.[1] The United Kingdom is the most recent to have ratified the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage by The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), doing so on 7 March 2024.[2] The convention was drafted in 2003,[3] and taking effect in 2006.[4]

According to the convention, intangible cultural heritage elements are components of the cultural heritage within a territory that are equally as important as physical cultural elements, like World Heritage Sites.[5] The elements are abstract and must be learned, encompassing traditional knowledge which includes festivals, music, performances, celebrations, handicrafts, and oral traditions. Intangible cultural heritage is based on the opinions of local communities, as according to the convention there needs to be stakeholders viewing the elements as "their heritage".[6] The member states undertake to create one or several inventories of the intangible cultural heritage within their territory.[6] This work is ongoing in Northern Europe.

UNESCO upholds two international lists of intangible cultural heritage, the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity and the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding.[7] The member states apply for cultural elements to be added to the international lists. The Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage, which approves new inscription requests, and a definition of "intangible cultural heritage".[3] As part of the convention, the UNESCO also upholds the Register of Good Safeguarding Practices that contains that reflect the principles of the convention – that is to uphold living traditions.[7] No cultural elements from Northern Europe have been included on the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding.[8]

Inventories of intangible cultural heritage in Northern Europe

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Country/Territory List(s) of intangible cultural heritage National authority in charge Established
Estonia Estonian Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage Estonian Folk Culture Centre 2007
Denmark Living culture – an inventory of intangible cultural heritage in Denmark The Danish Folklore Archives at The Royal Danish Library 2017
Finland Wiki-inventory for living heritage

National inventory for living heritage

National Board of Antiquities 2016

2017

Iceland - The Ministry of Education, Science and Culture ?
Ireland National Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht 2016
Latvia Nemateriālā kultūras mantojuma saraksts National Culture Center of Latvia 2017[9]
Lithuania The Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Lithuania Lithuanian National Culture Centre 2015
Norway Immateriell kulturarv Arts Council ?
Sweden Living traditions – an inventory of intangible cultural heritage in Sweden The Institute for Language and Folklore ?
United Kingdom ICH Scotland Museums Galleries Scotland 2011

Cultural elements from Northern Europe on the Representative List

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Six intangible cultural heritage elements on UNESCO's representative list originate from the region. Three have been inscribed as elements of Estonia and Lithuania, two as elements of Ireland and Latvia, one for Norway and Finland, and none for Denmark, Iceland, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. Estonia, Lithuania, and Latvia share one cultural heritage element.[10]

The table lists information about each International Cultural Heritage element:

Name: official name, worded as inscribed on the list
Region: region within or outside a country where a heritage is still practiced
Country: country, as inscribed on the list
Year: the year the site was inscribed on the Intangible Cultural Heritage List
Session: the session and decision in which a heritage is inscribed by the committee[nb 1]
Description: brief description of the heritage
Site: official UNESCO page
Elements of Northern Europe
Name Region Country Year Session Description Site
Baltic song and dance celebrations Baltic states  Estonia
 Latvia
 Lithuania 		2008 3.COM UNESCO has inscribed the folk festivals of the Baltic countries, which celebrate the region's heritage of dancing and musical performances. Three events are directly mentioned.[10] The first is the Estonian Song Festival, held once every five years.[11] The event was first held in 1869,[12] when the region was still under the control of Tsarist Russia.[13] The second, the Latvian song festival, is also held every five years, beginning in 1873.[10] The third is the Lithuanian Song and Dance Celebration, held once every four years. The festival originates in Kaunas, and was first celebrated in 1924.[14] The Baltic celebrations attract participants and visitors from around the world.[14] All three events served as a celebration of national pride, and continued, even under the rule of the Soviet Union.[10] During the fall of Communism, revolutions in the region were dubbed "Singing Revolutions", a name derived from the influence of folk festivals on the drive for independence.[13] .[10]
Kihnu cultural space Kihnu island and Manilaid island in the Baltic Sea  Estonia 2008 3.COM UNESCO has inscribed the cultural practices of the Kihnu people. This includes the sealing and fishing traditionally performed by the men, the farming traditionally performed by the women, and the musical performances, celebrations, and handicrafts of the community.[15] The Kihnu people have retained the tradition of performing runic songs, a form of song that predates Christianity.[16] Kihnu clothing, made of wool, are covered with colourful decorations, which serve as representations of the mythology of the community.[15] .[15]
Seto Leelo, Seto polyphonic singing tradition Southeastern Estonia and the Pechorsky District of Pskov Oblast, Russia  Estonia 2009 4.COM 13.38 The performance of leelo, a tradition practiced by the Seto people, has been inscribed as an intangible cultural heritage.[17] Leelo is a form of polyphonic singing performed by participants, usually women,[17] dressed in traditional clothing.[18] During the Seto Kingdom Day celebration, the winning lead singer of a leelo group is awarded the title of "Mother of Song".[17] .[17]
Suiti cultural space Western Latvia  Latvia 2009 4.COM 14.07 The culture and traditions of the Suiti people are inscribed as an intangible cultural heritage. This includes the community's festivals, celebrations, food, folk clothing, religious practices, language, and dance and musical performances.[19] Living in a region that is largely Protestant, the Suiti people are followers of Catholicism, a belief system that survived the Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic era.[19] .[19]
Cross-crafting and its symbolism National  Lithuania 2008 3.COM Cross-crafting, the art of creating crosses, is a tradition in Lithuania. The practice is part of the Roman Catholic tradition in the region.[20] .[20]
Sutartinės, Lithuanian multipart songs Northeastern Lithuania  Lithuania 2010 5.COM 6.26 Sutartinės is a form of Lithuanian folk music. The polyphonic songs are performed during celebrations.[21] .[21]
Uilleann piping Ireland  Ireland 2017 12.COM 11.b.16 The practice of playing the uilleann pipes, a highly developed form of bagpipes for playing Irish traditional music .[22]
Hurling & Camogie Ireland  Ireland 2018 13.COM The bat and ball sports originating in Gaelic culture. .[23]
Practice of traditional music and dance in Setesdal, playing, dancing and singing (stev/stevjing) Setesdal, Agder County in southern Norway.  Norway 2019 14.COM In the practice of traditional music and dance in Setesdal, playing, dancing and singing (stev/stevjing), traditional dance and music belong together, interwoven in the social context. .[24]
Sauna culture in Finland Finland  Finland 2020 15.COM Sauna culture, which can take place in homes or public places, involves much more than simply washing oneself. In a sauna, people cleanse their bodies and minds and embrace a sense of inner peace. .[25]
Inuit drum dancing and singing Greenland  Denmark 2021 16.COM Drum dancing and drum singing are indigenous forms of Inuit artistic expression and music in Greenland. 01696
Nordic clinker boat traditions Nordic countries  Denmark
 Finland
 Iceland
 Norway
 Sweden 		2021 16.COM Nordic clinker boats are small, open, wooden boats between five and ten metres long. 01686
  • A Kihnu church with a green roof behind a small stone wall.
    A Kihnu church
  • Illustrations of Estonian folk costumes. One depicts a girl in a traditional Seto dress.
    Depiction of a girl in traditional Seto dress, third from the left.
  • An audience listening to a speaker during Seto Kingdom Day.
    Seto Kingdom Day in 2006.
  • A Lithuanian cross standing by a forest.
    A cross constructed in Lithuania.
  • The town sign of Alsunga, center of the Suiti cultural space.
    The town sign of Alsunga, center of the Suiti cultural space.
  • Finnish sauna
    Finnish sauna
  • Irish women playing camogie
    Irish women playing camogie

Total heritage elements by country

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Exclusive heritage elements are those that are inscribed as a heritage of a single country. Shared heritage elements are inscribed as elements of multiple countries. As of 3 November 2012

Total elements by country
Country Exclusive elements Shared elements Ref.
 Denmark 1 1 [26]
 Estonia 2 1 [27]
 Finland 1 1 [28]
 Iceland — 1 [29]
 Ireland 2 — [30]
 Latvia 1 1 [31]
 Lithuania 2 1 [32]
 Norway 1 1 [33]
 Sweden — 1 [34]
 United Kingdom — — [35]

Entries from Northern Europe in the Register of Good Practices

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The first entry from Northern Europe in the Register of Good Practices was accepted in 2016. Oselvar boat – reframing a traditional learning process of building and use to a modern context is a concept from Norway. A non-profit boatyard and workshop foundation supports the traditional knowledge concerning Oselvar boats.[36]

In 2018, The Land-of-Legends programme in Kronoberg Region (South-Sweden) was added to the registry for promoting and revitalizing the art of storytelling.[8] The organization behind the Land-of Legends programme is the Storytelling Network of Kronoberg, an accredited NGO within the system of the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage.[37][38]

Norway is also part of a multi national entry in the Register of Good Practices, inscribed in 2020. The entry, named Craft techniques and customary practices of cathedral workshops, or Bauhütten, in Europe, know-how, transmission, development of knowledge and innovation, is a joint listing for Norway, Germany, Austria, France, Switzerland.[39]

Notes

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  1. ^ The .COM abbreviation is used by UNESCO for committee sessions. 3.COM represents the third session of the committee, 4.COM represents the fourth session, and so on.

References

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  1. ^ a b "Composition of macro geographical (continental) regions, geographical sub-regions, and selected economic and other groupings". United Nations Statistics Division. Archived from the original on 17 April 2010. Retrieved 24 October 2012.
  2. ^ "Intangible Cultural Heritage: the United Kingdom becomes the 183rd State to join UNESCO's Convention". unesco.org. 12 April 2024. Archived from the original on 2 September 2024. Retrieved 2 September 2024.
  3. ^ a b "Text of the Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage". UNESCO. Archived from the original on 7 November 2015. Retrieved 24 October 2012.
  4. ^ "The States Parties to the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (2003)". UNESCO. Archived from the original on 9 November 2015. Retrieved 3 November 2012.
  5. ^ "State Parties". UNESCO. Archived from the original on 10 May 2017. Retrieved 24 October 2012.
  6. ^ a b "UNESCO – Text of the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage". ich.unesco.org. Archived from the original on 17 June 2021. Retrieved 22 February 2019.
  7. ^ a b "UNESCO – Purpose of the Lists of Intangible Cultural Heritage and of the Register of Good Safeguarding Practices". ich.unesco.org. Archived from the original on 22 February 2019. Retrieved 22 February 2019.
  8. ^ a b "UNESCO – Browse the Lists of Intangible Cultural Heritage and the Register of good safeguarding practices". ich.unesco.org. Archived from the original on 15 May 2017. Retrieved 22 February 2019.
  9. ^ "Intangible Cultural Heritage Law". likumi.lv. Archived from the original on 23 April 2021. Retrieved 29 November 2018.
  10. ^ a b c d e "Baltic song and dance celebrations". UNESCO. Archived from the original on 21 October 2012. Retrieved 3 November 2012.
  11. ^ Kurm, Kairi (8 July 1991). "A new verse in the Song Festival". Baltic Times. Archived from the original on 22 January 2011. Retrieved 4 November 2012.
  12. ^ Tallinn, BC (6 October 2009). "Tiny Estonia tunes up for giant national-pride choir". AFP. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 4 November 2012.
  13. ^ a b Mardiste, David (6 July 2009). "Crisis can't dampen Estonia's traditional song fest". 6 July 2009. Reuters. Archived from the original on 6 March 2016. Retrieved 4 November 2012.
  14. ^ a b Juodelyte-Moliboga, Karina (4 July 2007). "Lithuania bursts into song and dance". Baltic Times. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 4 November 2012.
  15. ^ a b c "Kihnu cultural space". UNESCO. Archived from the original on 21 October 2012. Retrieved 3 November 2012.
  16. ^ Jaan Ross; Ilse Lehiste (2001). The Temporal Structure of Estonian Runic Songs. Walter de Gruyter. p. 13. ISBN 978-3-11-017032-0. Retrieved 4 November 2012.
  17. ^ a b c d "Seto Leelo, Seto polyphonic singing tradition". UNESCO. Archived from the original on 11 June 2007. Retrieved 3 November 2012.
  18. ^ Kevin O'Connor (2006). Culture And Customs of the Baltic States. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 178. ISBN 978-0-313-33125-1. Retrieved 5 November 2012.
  19. ^ a b c "Suiti cultural space". UNESCO. Archived from the original on 21 October 2012. Retrieved 3 November 2012.
  20. ^ a b "Cross-crafting and its symbolism". UNESCO. Archived from the original on 21 October 2012. Retrieved 3 November 2012.
  21. ^ a b "Sutartinės, Lithuanian multipart songs". UNESCO. Archived from the original on 4 October 2015. Retrieved 3 November 2012.
  22. ^ "Uilleann piping". UNESCO. Archived from the original on 7 December 2020. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
  23. ^ "Uilleann piping". UNESCO. 28 November 2018. Archived from the original on 21 November 2019. Retrieved 29 November 2018.
  24. ^ "UNESCO – Practice of traditional music and dance in Setesdal, playing, dancing and singing (stev/stevjing)". ich.unesco.org. Archived from the original on 15 May 2017. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
  25. ^ "UNESCO – Sauna culture in Finland". ich.unesco.org. Archived from the original on 15 May 2017. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
  26. ^ "Denmark — Information related to Intangible Cultural Heritage". UNESCO. Retrieved 3 November 2012.
  27. ^ "Estonia — Information related to Intangible Cultural Heritage". Estonia. Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 3 November 2012.
  28. ^ "Finland — Information related to Intangible Cultural Heritage". UNESCO. Archived from the original on 27 October 2015. Retrieved 3 November 2012.
  29. ^ "Iceland — Information related to Intangible Cultural Heritage". UNESCO. Retrieved 3 November 2012.
  30. ^ "Ireland— Information related to Intangible Cultural Heritage". UNESCO. Retrieved 3 November 2012.
  31. ^ "Latvia — Information related to Intangible Cultural Heritage". UNESCO. Archived from the original on 22 May 2015. Retrieved 3 November 2012.
  32. ^ "Lithuania — Information related to Intangible Cultural Heritage". UNESCO. Archived from the original on 7 November 2015. Retrieved 3 November 2012.
  33. ^ "Norway — Information related to Intangible Cultural Heritage". UNESCO. Retrieved 3 November 2012.
  34. ^ "Sweden — Information related to Intangible Cultural Heritage". UNESCO. Retrieved 3 November 2012.
  35. ^ "United Kingdom — Information related to Intangible Cultural Heritage". UNESCO. Archived from the original on 3 November 2015. Retrieved 3 November 2012.
  36. ^ "UNESCO – Oselvar boat – reframing a traditional learning process of building and use to a modern context". ich.unesco.org. Archived from the original on 15 May 2017. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
  37. ^ "UNESCO – Land-of-Legends programme, for promoting and revitalizing the art of storytelling in Kronoberg Region (South-Sweden)". ich.unesco.org. Archived from the original on 15 May 2017. Retrieved 22 February 2019.
  38. ^ "UNESCO – Sweden". ich.unesco.org. Archived from the original on 20 May 2021. Retrieved 22 February 2019.
  39. ^ "UNESCO – Craft techniques and customary practices of cathedral workshops, or Bauhütten, in Europe, know-how, transmission, development of knowledge and innovation". ich.unesco.org. Archived from the original on 15 May 2017. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
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