Intangible cultural heritage - these are living traditions that are maintained and passed on to this day. They shape the identity of regions, connect generations and make Germany's cultural diversity tangible. This includes not only traditional knowledge and skills, but also the rituals, festivals and crafts that make local life special.
Since 2013, Germany has been committed to protecting intangible heritage as part of the UNESCO Convention. The German UNESCO Commission's nationwide list shows how diverse these traditions are - from major cultural forms such as theater and orchestras to regional customs.
Saxony-Anhalt also has numerous traditions that have gained recognition throughout Germany, such as the Spergauer Lichtmeß, the Low German theater, timber rafting, the chess tradition in Ströbeck or the popular Bad Dürrenberg fountain festival. They all invite you to experience culture up close.
Listed as Intangible Cultural Heritage in the State and Federal Registers
UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage
Germany acceded to the Convention in 2013. Under the motto “Knowledge. Skill. Transmission,” the Federal Republic has been implementing it ever since. In this way, it nurtures, promotes, and preserves the diversity of living cultural expressions. Through the National Register of Intangible Cultural Heritage, it recognizes creative and inclusive cultural forms that are practiced and passed on in Germany. Nominations come from civil society, directly from the participating groups. The Conference of Ministers of Culture and the Federal Government decide on inclusion based on recommendations provided by experts from the German UNESCO Commission.