You probably know Machu Picchu and the Taj Mahal as famous UNESCO World Heritage sites—structures and monuments of great cultural value. But what about Beijing opera? Or the art of pizza-making in Naples? What do these have in common?
Traditions like these are known as “intangible cultural heritage”. In comparison with UNESCO World Heritage sites, intangible heritage does not include buildings like palaces and temples. Instead, it includes traditional art forms, such as music, dance, and craft-making—living traditions that are an important part of a place’s culture.
UNESCO began to identify cultural traditions in 2008. By 2017, UNESCO had approved (批准) more than 300 diverse practices. These include cultural events like the Chinese Dragon Boat Festival, performing arts like Spanish flamenco, and handicrafts like Japanese washi paper-making. In 2010, UNESCO also began to include important regional cuisines, starting with French and Mexican food.
Cultural rituals (仪式) are an important part of the UNESCO list. An example is the Tlemcen wedding ceremony in Algeria. The ceremony begins in the bride’s parents’ home, where friends and female relatives help the bride prepare for the ceremony. The bride is first dressed in a golden silk dress. Before leaving the house for the ceremony, her face is wrapped in a golden silk veil (面纱). Later, during the wedding feast, the bride removes her veil, ready to be married. The tradition has passed from one generation to the next, and marks the community’s cultural identity.
Some of the cultural items on the list are dying out and in need of protection. An example is Al Sadu—a traditional form of weaving in the United Arab Emirates. The tradition was once widely practiced by communities of desert Bedouin women. However, as many Bedouins have now moved to cities, Al Sadu is mostly practiced by older women whose number is decreasing.
UNESCO hopes that by bringing attention to cultural traditions such as Al Sadu, they will be more likely to survive. “Cultural traditions are important to fight for.” says Cecile Duvelle of UNESCO. “The more globalized the world becomes,” she adds, “the more important it is not to lose these traditional roots.”
4. Which of the following could NOT be added to the intangible cultural heritage list?
A.Flute music from Peru. | B.A historic bridge in Paris. |
C.An Irish poetry festival. | D.A traditional Italian diet. |
5. What can we learn from the passage?
A.All of the cultural items on the UNESCO list are not well preserved. |
B.The traditional weaving—Al Sadu is still popular in Bedouin culture. |
C.The main ceremony of the Tlemcen wedding takes place in the bride’s parents’ home. |
D.Typical regional dishes are among the first items on the UNESCO list of intangible heritage. |
6. What’s the best title for the passage?
A.Disappearing Cultural Traditions |
B.Different Types of Cultural Practices |
C.An Introduction to Intangible Heritage |
D.Cultural Heritage on the UNESCO List |