LESSON 3. EUROPEAN IDENTITY AND TRANSNATIONAL HERITAGE — CASE STUDY: THE MEDITERRANEAN DIET
Unlike national identities, which usually rest on common language, shared history and a specific territory, European identity is more layered and complex. It is built on the principle of “unity in diversity” — the idea that Europeans are different, but their diversity is what unites them. Intangible cultural heritage (ICH) plays a vital role here. Think about it: food traditions, seasonal festivals, songs and crafts often cross borders. They remind us that what makes us unique also connects us.
3.1 Unity and diversity in practice
The Handbook shows us that European identity is:
- Plural: you can feel Saxon, Romanian, and European at the same time.
- Value-based: it rests on democracy, human rights, respect for cultural diversity.
- Lived through heritage: not abstract, but practised through everyday rituals — from Carnival to food traditions.
ICH helps connect local roots with European narratives. For example, transhumance is practised in Romania, Italy and Spain, showing both difference and shared history.
3.2 The role of ICH in European identity
Why is intangible heritage so important in building a European identity?
- It creates shared memory across countries.
- It fosters cultural dialogue: learning how others celebrate or eat opens paths for understanding.
- It proves that diversity is a strength: Europe is not about erasing traditions, but about celebrating them together.
- It aligns with sustainability: many traditions reflect respect for nature and community life.
3.3 Institutions and policies
- UNESCO recognises ICH worldwide and highlights shared practices across borders.
- The European Union promotes cultural diversity through Creative Europe, Erasmus+, Horizon Europe and cohesion funds.
- The Council of Europe develops Cultural Routes — think of the Olive Tree Route or the Santiago de Compostela Pilgrimage.
These initiatives show that European identity is not only about politics or institutions. It is also about sharing traditions, crafts, food and stories.
CASE STUDY 3 — The Mediterranean Diet: a transnational ICH element
The Mediterranean Diet, inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List in 2010, is a perfect example of a transnational tradition. It is more than food. Knowledge and skills: growing olives, fishing, preparing recipes. Social practices: family meals, hospitality, rituals of eating together. Values: sustainability, health, respect for the environment and community. Countries like Spain, Italy, Greece, Cyprus and Croatia all recognise it as their own. Yet together, they show how a local daily practice (eating and sharing meals) becomes a symbol of European identity.
Stop and reflect: what meals in your own community bring people together in a similar way? Could they also express values like hospitality, sustainability or family cohesion?
Activities (Try it yourself)
Activities (drawn from INTHRACE Pedagogical Model — Components 03 Interpretation & Promotion, 04 Policy & Governance, 05 Sustainable Practices)
- Essay task (individual). Compare the Mediterranean Diet with one tradition from your region. How do both connect daily practices with larger values?
- Visual task (individual or pairs). Create a diagram showing how the Mediterranean Diet links everyday food with European ideals (diversity, dialogue, sustainability).
- Social-media campaign (group, INTHRACE Component 03). Design 3 social-media posts promoting a food tradition from your region as European heritage. Consider audience, values expressed, platform.
- Sustainability brief (INTHRACE Component 05). Identify two ways your chosen food tradition supports sustainability (e.g. seasonality, short supply chains, intergenerational knowledge) and one risk that threatens it.
Reflection questions
- How can Europe promote a shared identity without erasing local distinctiveness?
- Does eating together create stronger bonds than monuments or flags? Why?
- Is European identity best expressed by shared traditions (unity) or by respect for diversity (plurality)?
- Can something as everyday as food really become a marker of identity?