Pretty much everyone knows about Unesco’s World Heritage Sites. It’s a protected list of some of the globe’s most significant places, run by the UN’s dedicated cultural body.
But its Intangible Cultural Heritage list isn’t quite so well known. Unesco’s ‘intangible heritage’ consists of practices, arts, communities and knowledge: stuff like tango, couscous, falconry and avalanche risk management.
And now the list is even longer. The French baguette, the North Korean noodle dish raengmyon and the Japanese ritual dance furyu-odori are among the latest crop of intangibles to be recognised.
At a Unesco conference in the Moroccan city of Rabat, 13 new things have become official intangible cultural heritage. In total, 56 things are up for consideration, and whether they’ll be added will be decided over the next few days. If something becomes designated as cultural heritage, it gets more funding dedicated to its preservation.
You can view all the new pieces of intangible heritage and find out any new additions here. And if you’re particularly fond of baguettes – well, it’s time to celebrate. If Unesco has anything to do with it, you’ll be munching on those delicious sticks of bread forever.
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