The Ministry of Culture announced the registration of twenty-one (21) new elements of intangible cultural heritage, in the National Intangible Cultural Heritage Index of Greece, as well as the updating of two registered in 2013, in the National Index.

The Minister of Culture Lina Mendoni, with the acceptance of the Commission’s recommendation for the registration of the twenty-one new items in the National Index, said:

“The Ministry of Culture considers it particularly important to register new elements of Intangible Cultural Heritage in the National Index, which contributes to the preservation of our collective identity. The data records the imprint of people over time, as a presumption of national self-awareness and a basis on which our collective self-confidence is built. Of the 21 new elements registered in the National Index of Intangible Cultural Heritage, some are well-known and wonderful: the Silversmithing craft of Ioannina, the Carnival Lanterns of Kozani, the pistachio culture of Aegina, the Xinomauro wine of Naoussa. Some others, such as the Kourbania of Saint Athanassios, in Kalambaki of Drama, the Carnival custom of Kadi in Samos, the traditional dance “Kagkelari” of Arta. express a society that invents collective ways of expression, based on solid traditions or as a tribute to the free spirit of our people. Our intangible cultural heritage contains evidence of the deep cultural footprint of a rich and, to some extent, unexplored past. It is a key element of our Culture. We must honor and respect it. Our modern society is rooted in tradition, in history, in the experiences of the people who preceded us in this place. A future without a past is not auspicious.”

In addition, in accordance with the terms of the Convention for the Preservation of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, according to which the updating, at periodic intervals, of the data entered in the National Indices of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of the States-parties of the Convention is defined, the records of the data were updated: Tinian Marble Craftsmanship and the know-how of traditional mastic cultivation in Chios. These are two of the first items registered in the National Intangible Cultural Heritage Index of Greece. in 2013, which communities continue to preserve and highlight their importance at a local and supra-local level. In the year 2023, the process of updating the rest of the first registrations, which were made exactly ten years ago, in 2013, is to be continued and completed.

(Photo retrieved from https://kosmima-gkogkos.gr/)