The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) began compiling its list of traditions deemed “Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity” in 2008 to recognize time-honored traditions that have been passed down from generation to generation and century to century. Since then, over 500 cultural traditions from around the world have been recognized and the process was then begun to safeguard and protect these traditions, hopefully allowing them to thrive for centuries more. Here are 12 selected European cultural traditions that have made UNESCO’s List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, which you should make a point to visit on your next Tripmasters vacation.
One of the most recent additions to UNESCO’s List of Intangible Cultural Heritage, in 2022, is the culture surrounding Lipizzaner horse breeding. Originating in Vienna as the carefully-bred line intended for the Habsburg imperial court, the Lipizzan breed has a longstanding association with the Habsburg-endorsed Spanish Riding School. It is the oldest horse training school in the world, having been continuously in operation since the 1720s. The school is referred to as “Spanish” because the Lipizzan breed comes from stock primarily from Spain, but also found in areas such as Morocco. A pure Lipizzan horse must have a bloodline that originated from one of only eight 18th century-era stallions. Many times endangered throughout history, Lipizzaner horses number over 11,000 today, and can be found not just in Austria but in many nations around the world. This particular horse breeding culture spread to many nations that were once part of the Austro-Hungarian empire, such as Slovenia, Croatia, Romania, Slovakia, Hungary, and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Out of all the countries in the world, beer is king perhaps most notably in Belgium, having had a history in the kingdom since the time of the Romans. Belgium is home to over 300 different breweries, which comes to one brewery for every two towns in the country! In Medieval times, water was not considered to be drinkable and instead townspeople and villagers would drink beer as their main liquid every day. Since beer was vital to life, many local brewers took up the task of supplying the populace with various types of ales, such as Flemish red, sour brown, and pale ales. With the local brewery culture so firmly entrenched, there is much loyalty to brand names, and each Belgian beer comes with its own branded glass, bonding consumer to product even more. By 1993, only 106 breweries were open in Belgium, but with the rise of craft beer production, the rejuvenated industry has more than tripled in size in the past 30 years. Liège, Leuven, and Chimay are cities and towns irrevocably tied to Belgian beer culture.
Lacemaking is one of Croatia‘s most famous industries, and there are three styles in particular that have been passed down from generation to generation and exemplify the beauty that people associate with such intricately-made handicrafts. Lepoglava-style lace originates from northern Croatia and is known for its braided style, made with the use of spindles or bobbins. Pag-style lace (pictured) originates from Pag Island in the Adriatic Sea, and is an intricate needlepoint style used for everything from tablecloths to church vestments. Then there is Hvar-style lace, local to the Benedictine convent on Hvar Island, where threads from aloe leaves are woven together to create beautiful netted patterns. Lace tends to be highly-prized on traditional Croatian folk costumes; the more intricate and extensive the lacework, the higher of a status symbol the garment will be perceived.
The Mediterranean diet, high in vegetables and fish and augmented with olive oil for cooking, is more than just what people eat and have eaten; it also includes the agricultural and culinary know-how that resulted in such a heart-healthy diet to be adopted by countless countries in southern Europe and the Middle East, from Portugal and Spain all the way east to Egypt, Turkey, and Israel. Another important cultural component of the Mediterranean diet is the way in which it is consumed: with family and friends, marking a degree of hospitality in dining not uniformly seen across Europe. The Mediterranean diet even stretches into industries you wouldn’t immediately think of when you think of food, but are quite essential. You need plates from which to eat and cups from which to drink, and the ceramic works found in southern Europe are all beautiful, whether they are for everyday dining or a very special occasion.
The distinct culture of puppetry in what is now the Czech Republic and Slovakia has been handed down from one generation to another, with little change to the overall style over the course of time. Originated by traveling theatre performers who would put on shows for fairs and feast days, the stories told in this style of puppet theatre ranges from the typical comedic fare to historical epics rooted in Czech and Slovak literary traditions. What’s most important is that each story has a moral, important for the countless children who have experienced the joy of a puppet show in these countries. This tradition is wide-reaching, employing performers, puppet makers, costume makers, and stage designers, just to name a few specific jobs needed to allow this industry to continue to thrive. Slovakia’s puppeteers are from nationally-famous performing dynasties, while the Czech tradition employs a wide range of actors who also appear in stage productions themselves.
The tradition of the French “gastronomic meal” (répas gastronomique) typically happens when an important milestone happens in a family. These can include anything from births and baptisms to marriages, anniversaries, graduations, and many other types of celebrations. The keys to the répas are as follows: to select a delicious menu consisting of at least four delicious courses, with an emphasis on local recipes and locally-sourced ingredients; to ensure the wine, apéritif, and after-dinner liqueur selection is the best for the menu; and to organize a beautiful and perhaps opulent table setting. Hospitality, good food, and camaraderie are paramount at the répas. These meals most often occur at home, but in the cases of many holidays and feast days, the répas are large-scale events and can be enjoyed outdoors with people from the local community (pictured).
The harp is intrinsically linked to the identity of Irish people and the nation as a whole. It has been a part of Irish culture and music for over 1,000 years, playing roles in Celtic mythology and even finding a place on the Republic of Ireland‘s official seal. The very first harps were carved from willow trees and strung with wire, meant to be played with one’s nails, while today’s harps come from any number of types of hardwood, typically strung with either cattle gut or nylon, and is now played with the fingertips. Traditionally an instrument one learned to play from aural instruction, written notation helps modern practitioners in the performance of their melodies. Once at risk of becoming a dying art, the harp has gained more interest among the Irish as traditional Irish culture has been promoted more over the past few generations, and now the Republic boasts over 1,500 practicing harpists.
Cremona, Italy was recognized as a local musical epicenter by the 16th century, with a large number of luthiers (those who build and repair string instruments with necks and sound boxes, such as violins) setting up shop in the city around this time. Perhaps the most famous luthier of Cremona is Antonio Stradivari (statue pictured), whose Stradivarius violins became famous the world over. Today over 140 luthiers still practice their trade in Cremona, and their finished products are highly prized. A years-long apprenticeship is common before becoming a full-fledged luthier, a job which takes 250 man hours just to make one violin! Using the traditional hand-crafting method, luthiers each make approximately six violins a year. A key cultural component to the making of violins in Cremona is communication; since no two violins are alike, the violin-maker must listen to the customer’s wants and concerns so the final product fits their needs perfectly.
The culture surrounding the “bloemencorso” (flower festival) in the Netherlands has taken on a unique meaning to the Dutch since it was imported from the Spanish and Italians in the late 19th century. In these festivals, groups of people create elaborate floats adorned with fresh flowers and even fruits and vegetables. Depending on the part of the country you are in, these festivals can be held in the streets or on the waterways. While a prize is given to the best float, that’s not why people love the “bloemencorso” festivals so much. Afterwards, people get together and have food and drinks, celebrating a job well done. The social cohesion involved in building a float and participating in the parade is now perceived as uniquely Dutch in flavor, with some festivals requiring apprenticeships before spearheading an entire float. The largest flower festival occurs each September in the town of Zundert, near the Belgian border, 10 miles away from Breda.
The art of flamenco is the product of the fusion of three components: song, dance, and musicianship (translated as cante, baile y toque). While flamenco performers and performances can be found in many areas of Spain, such as Extremadura and Murcia, Andalucia is the region that has perfected flamenco culture and has done so for centuries. By the 19th century, flamenco schools were already thriving in Cádiz, Jerez de la Frontera, and Seville. The songs associated with flamenco can have any type of emotion, but they are typically sung without any additional vocal help. The dances are intricate and passionate, with men taking louder and more deliberate steps while women tell their stories through dance more gracefully. Finally, there is the flamenco guitarist, a role which enjoys a level of popularity and reverence apart from the singers and dancers. (Pictured: A woman in traditional flamenco attire.)
The largest carnival in Switzerland, the Basel Carnival lasts for 72 hours beginning on the Monday following Ash Wednesday. Having been celebrated continually for over 500 years, it is billed as the longest-running and, currently, the only Protestant-led carnival celebrations in the world. The Mondays and Wednesdays of each carnival season are days for street parades, where over 15,000 people take to the streets in satirical costumes, meant to promote tolerance as the people behind the oddly-shaped masks are friendly and there to promote merriment. There are equal numbers of men and women actively participating in the festival, something that has been very important to organizers for a long time. A group called “the clique” specifically reaches out to the youth of Basel to get them excited for the Carnival, ensuring its survival for generations to come.
The tea culture of Turkey is wide-encompassing, including not just tea drinkers but also growers and harvesters, tearoom proprietors, tea makers, and even the people involved in making teacups, dishes, and cutlery. At the core of tea culture, you will find relaxation as well as a sense of community, as tearooms are still very much an integral part of daily life in Turkey, even in the most populated cities like Istanbul. The average Turkish person drinks four cups of tea a day, outpacing even England. The tea consumed in Turkey is typically black tea, served with sugar, lemon, sweets and jams in small curvy glasses called ince belli. One of the newest additions to the UNESCO List of Intangible Cultural Heritage, it was inscribed in December 2022, having already been culturally protected by Turkey’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism.
Did you know that there are over 500 cultural traditions recognized on UNESCO’s List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity? You can learn more about the cultures of over 120 countries and territories throughout the world by visiting Tripmasters.com, where you can book your next fabulous cultural getaway.
