Introduction
When most people hear the word heritage, they immediately think of castles, churches, or monuments. For a long time, heritage was reduced to these tangible things – objects made of stone, metal, or paint, preserved in museums or restored for admiration. But what about the songs people sing at weddings, the rituals that mark the change of seasons, or the skills of weaving carpets or making pottery? Are these not also part of who we are?
Perhaps heritage is not only something we can visit, but also something we can experience, perform, and pass on. The following video explores one such example. Community events like night gatherings “șezători,” as the one presented in this video, show that cultural heritage is a living process, maintained through participation, social interaction, and the continuous transmission of knowledge, values, and cultural practices from one generation to the next.
This is where the concept of intangible cultural heritage (ICH) comes in. UNESCO’s 2003 Convention defines it as “the practices, representations, expressions, knowledge, skills – as well as the instruments, objects, artefacts and cultural spaces associated therewith – that communities, groups and, in some cases, individuals recognize as part of their cultural heritage.”
In simpler words, ICH is everything that communities do, know, and pass on, rather than what they build.
Living, community-based, and dynamic
What makes ICH special is that it is:
- Living – it survives because people practice it. Unlike a monument, which can stand empty for centuries, a ritual or a song continues only if it is performed.
- Community-based – heritage exists only if a community recognizes it as theirs. If people no longer care about it, it loses its meaning.
- Dynamic – traditions are never frozen. They adapt, change, sometimes decline, and at other times are revived in new forms.
- Identity-shaping – they provide continuity, a sense of belonging, and resilience.
Think of a lullaby that your grandmother sang. Even if today you hear it on YouTube or mix it into a modern song, its roots in your family history remain strong.
The five UNESCO domains
UNESCO groups ICH into five domains, which help us see its diversity:
- Oral traditions and expressions – stories, legends, proverbs, poetry.
Example: the “Land-of-Legends” storytelling programme in Sweden, revitalizing the art of oral narrative. - Performing arts – music, dance, theatre.
Example: Flamenco in Spain, or the Lads’ Dances in Romania, performed at festive occasions. - Social practices, rituals, and festive events – ceremonies, celebrations, community rituals.
Example: the Carnival of Binche in Belgium, with its costumed parades. - Knowledge and practices concerning nature and the universe – farming, fishing, traditional medicine.
Example: the Kihnu cultural space in Estonia, where women preserve maritime traditions. - Traditional craftsmanship – making objects by hand, from pottery to musical instruments.
Example: traditional wall-carpet weaving in Romania and Moldova.
How do we know something is ICH?
Scholar Federico Lenzerini (2011) proposed five constitutive factors that can guide us:
- The community must recognize it as heritage.
- It must be transmitted across generations.
- It evolves and adapts (not fixed in the past).
- It has value for identity.
- It fosters cultural diversity and creativity.
Now think: is a family recipe just “food,” or does it qualify as heritage? If it is passed on, recognized by your family as part of who you are, and represents creativity – it ticks all the boxes.
Why does ICH matter?
Intangible heritage is not only about preserving the past. It also:
- Connects people and strengthens social cohesion.
- Encourages respect for cultural diversity.
- Inspires innovation (modern fashion inspired by traditional embroidery, for example).
- Supports local economies through crafts and tourism.
- Contributes to sustainable development.
Try it yourself
At this point, stop and think:
- For each of the five UNESCO categories, can you name one tradition from your community?
- Think of a family practice – maybe a proverb, a festive meal, or a ritual. Apply Lenzerini’s five factors: does it qualify as ICH?
- Choose one local tradition and create a short “Heritage Profile” including:
- Its name;
- The community that recognizes it;
- When and how it is practiced;
- How it is transmitted;
- Why it is important for identity.
Activities (drawn from INTHRACE Model — Components 01 Identification & Documentation, 02 Community Involvement, 06 Technology & Innovation)
• Heritage Profile (individual): Choose one tradition from your community. Create a short “Heritage Profile” including: its name, the community that recognises it, when and how it is practised, how it is transmitted, why it is important for identity. Then apply Lenzerini’s five factors – does it qualify as ICH?
• Five-domains scavenger hunt (individual or pairs): For each of the five UNESCO categories, name one tradition from your community.
• Heritage timeline placement (pairs): Imagine drawing a timeline from 1850 to 2003. Where would you place a local tradition from your community? Would it be seen as heritage in 1900? In 1972? After 2003? Debate in pairs: which is harder to protect — a monument or a living tradition? Why?
• Digital exploration (homework, INTHRACE Component 06):
Browse Europeana (europeana.eu) or UNESCO’s ICH list (ich.unesco.org). Find one element from your country. Identify the domain and the community of practice.
Reflective questions
- Why is it just as important to safeguard living traditions as it is to restore monuments?
- What happens to identity if these traditions are forgotten?
- Do you feel more connected to a monument in your city or to a song your grandparents taught you? Why?
- Can globalization help traditions survive, or does it threaten them?