Abstract
The 2003 Convention for the safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage defines the intangible cultural heritage as “the practices, representations, expressions, knowledge, skills – as well as the instruments, objects, artifacts and cultural spaces associated therewith – that communities, groups and, in some cases, individuals recognize as part of their cultural heritage” .
Intangible cultural heritage can be manifested in various domains:
Oral traditions and expressions, language is a vehicle of the intangible cultural heritage.
Performing arts, which includes traditional music, dance and theatre.
Social practices, rituals and festive events.
Knowledge and practices concerning nature and the universe.
Traditional craftsmanship.
Intangible Cultural Heritage gives communities and groups a particular sense of identity and promotes respect for cultural diversity and human creativity. To be safeguarded, it must be transmitted from generation to generation. The intangible cultural heritage is traditional and living at the same time, this means that it is mainly transmitted orally and constantly recreated. Several elements of the intangible cultural heritage are endangered because of globalization.
