Hungary may add 2-3 items for inclusion on the list each year, says Eszter Csonka-Takács. UNESCO will announce the first international list in the autumn of 2009.
Hungary's national committee will consider oral traditions, performing arts, rituals or festivals, practices concerning nature and traditional craftsmanship that represent Hungary or any of its ethnic or linguistic minorities.
According to the 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, the intangible cultural heritage (ICH) - or living heritage - is the mainspring of our cultural diversity and its maintenance a guarantee for continuing creativity.
To be considered for inclusion on the list are oral traditions and expressions including language as a vehicle of the intangible cultural heritage; performing arts (such as traditional music, dance and theatre); social practices, rituals and festive events; knowledge and practices concerning nature and the universe; and traditional craftsmanship.
An example of an oral tradition that fits the criteria for inclusion is that of Russia's Olonkho, or Yakut heroic epos, which reflects Yakut beliefs and customs, shamanic practices, oral history and values. The "Olonkhosut" or narrator must excel in acting, singing, eloquence and poetic improvisation. Like most oral traditions, there are multiple versions of Olonkho, the longest amounting to 15,000 lines of verse.
For the performing arts, an example is the Azerbaijani Mugham, a classical music tradition that reflects the tumultuous history of that country. Characterized by a high degree of improvisation, it resists being transcribed in fixed form. Multiple versions are transmitted by masters who train students in the arts of interpretation and improvisation.
Gábor Soós, of the Office of Cultural Heritage Protection, notes that Hungary has been part of the 24-member international committee that assists the 89 signers of the Intangible Cultural Heritage convention since 2007.
Source: Múlt-kor / Hungarian News Agency (MTI) / www.unesco.org
