The Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage allows its member States to promote different aspects of their intangible cultural heritage as well as the policies they implement in order to study, safeguard and promote it. Our country’s policy on intangible cultural heritage nomination files which are proposed for inscription on the international lists of the Convention is determined by taking into account many and varied factors (see Frequently Asked Questions).
Greece, which ratified the Convention in 2006 (Text of the Convention in english, greek-french), has so far (December 2022) inscribed nine (9) elements of intangible cultural heritage on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity and one (1) on the Register of Good Safeguarding Practices.
In 2013 our country, in cooperation with Spain, Italy, Croatia, Cyprus, Morocco, Portugal, inscribed the Mediterranean Diet as an aspect of the intangible cultural heritage that characterizes the Mediterranean countries.
The element on the National Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Greece: Mediterranean Diet
In 2014, following the proposal of our country, the Know-how of Cultivating Mastic on the island of Chios was inscribed on the same list.
The element on the National Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Greece: Know-how of Cultivating Mastic on the island of Chios
In 2015, the Tinian Marble Craftmanship was inscribed.
The element on the National Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Greece: Tinian Marble Craftmanship
In 2016 the Momoeria, a New Year’s Celebration custom celebrated in eight villages of the Kozani area was also inscribed.
The element on the National Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Greece: Momoeria, a New Year’s Celebration
In 2017, the urban popular music called Rebetiko was inscribed.
The element on the National Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Greece: Rebetiko
In 2018, the Art of dry stone walling, knowledge and techniques was inscribed after a multinational file from Greece, Croatia, Cyprus, France, Italy, Slovenia, Spain and Switzerland was submitted for evaluation to the competent bodies of the Convention.
The element on the National Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Greece: Art of dry stone walling, knowledge and techniques
In 2019, during the 14th Session of the Intergovernmental Committee of the Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage (UNESCO, 2003) the element with the title: “Byzantine chant” was inscribed on the Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. This was a joint nomination file submitted with Cyprus. (UNESCO – ICH link: https://ich.unesco.org/en/RL/byzantine-chant-01508)
In 2019, Greece, Italy and Austria collaborated on a joint nomination file for the element with the title: “Transhumance, the seasonal droving of livestock along migratory routes in the Mediterranean and in the Alps”. The file was submitted for evaluation from the Intergovernmental Committee of the Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage – during its 14th Session- and was inscribed on the Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. (UNESCO – ICH link: https://ich.unesco.org/en/RL/transhumance-the-seasonal-droving-of-livestock-along-migratory-routes-in-the-mediterranean-and-in-the-alps-01470)
In 2020, the Polyphonic Caravan, researching, safeguarding and promoting the Epirus polyphonic song, was selected for the Register of Good Safeguarding Practices of the Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage (UNESCO, 2003).
The element connected with this inscription is the Polyphonic Song of Epirus.
In 2022, during the 17th Session of the Intergovernmental Committee of the Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage (UNESCO, 2003) the element with the title: «August 15th (Dekapentavgoustos) festivities in two Highland Communities of Northern Greece: Tranos Choros (Grand Dance) in Vlasti and Syrrako Festival» was inscribed on the Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
UNESCO – ICH link: https://ich.unesco.org/en/RL/august-15th-dekapentavgoustos-festivities-in-two-highland-communities-of-northern-greece-tranos-choros-grand-dance-in-vlasti-and-syrrako-festival-01726
Also, it is important to mention the proposal of our country at the 11th Meeting of the UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH Convention 2003) held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from 28/11/2016 to 2/12/2016 (Eleventh session Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 28 November to 2 December 2016), concerning the safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage in urgent circumstances (e.g. warfare etc.).
Finally, the Greek NGOs that have been accredited by UNESCO as advisors* to the Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage are the following:
– the Lyceum Club of Greek Women
– the Piraeus Bank Group Cultural Foundation
– the “V. Papantoniou” Peloponnesian Folklore Foundation
– the ELLINIKI ETAIRIA – Society for the Environment and Cultural Heritage – ELLET
– the Research Centre for Greek Singing [R.C.Gr.S.] – ERKET
For the accreditation of an NGO as an UNESCO consultant, see here.
*December 2022