This article lists the practices listed in UNESCO intangible cultural heritage To Cyprus.
Understand
The country has five practices listed on the "representative list of intangible cultural heritage From UNESCO.
No practice is included in the "register of best practices for safeguarding culture "Or on the"emergency backup list ».
Lists
Representative list
| Convenient | Year | Domain | Description | Drawing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Lefkara or Lefkaritika lace | 2009 | * know-how related to traditional craftsmanship * social practices, rituals and festive events | The making of lace in Lefkara, a village in southwestern Cyprus, is a tradition that dates back to XIVe century, if not more. Inspired by local craftsmanship, embroidery made by the Venetians of the court, at the time when the Venetians ruled the country from 1489, and geometric designs of Greek and Byzantine antiquity, lace de Lefkara is made by hand and consists of four basic elements: hemstitch, cut, satin stitch filling, needle stitch edging. This combination of art and social conviviality remains the main occupation of women in the village; they create tablecloths, napkins and personalized exhibits while chatting, sitting in small groups, in alleys or in the shelter of patios. The mastery of this unique art is passed on to the little girls who, at first, observe their elders for several years, then, secondly, are initiated by their mother or their grandmother who show them how to apply the cotton thread on a linen canvas. Once the technique has been perfectly acquired, the lacemaker calls on her imagination and creates her own patterns which will reflect the tradition and her personality. A testament to the capacity to welcome and integrate multiple influences into its culture, lace-making is at the heart of the daily life of the women of Lefkara and an identity symbol from which they take great pride. |  |
| The Tsiattista, poetic jousting | 2011 | * Performing Arts * social practices, rituals and festive events * oral traditions and expressions | Impromptu oral poetry, called Tsiattista, is a very living tradition often practiced with the accompaniment of violin or lute on the occasion of "jousts" during which a poet-singer tries to outdo another by skilful verses, composed of rhymed couplets. It has long been a popular feature of weddings, fairs and other public celebrations, where enthusiastic crowds encourage poets to perform. The most common metric form is the iambic fifteen-syllable verse in a rhymed couplet, but poets may use eight- or six-syllable or even nine-syllable verses. The most popular tsiattistaes (poet-singers) show wit, show great familiarity with poetic and musical traditions, a rich vocabulary and a fertile imagination. They are often men of modest means who have little education and who transmit their works by oral teaching; nowadays poets are mostly older men, but talented women have recently started performing. Poets must be familiar with the Cypriot dialect, have a good knowledge of popular Cypriot poetry and the ability to tap into existing Tsiattista and known to the majority; but above all, they must be able to improvise a new couplet on a particular theme under very strict time constraints and to respond to their opponent. |  |
| The Mediterranean diet | 2013 | * oral traditions and expressions * social practices, rituals and festive events * knowledge and practices concerning nature and the universe * know-how related to traditional craftsmanship | The Mediterranean diet involves a set of skills, knowledge, rituals, symbols and traditions that concern crops, harvests, picking, fishing, breeding, conservation, processing, cooking and, in particular, the way of sharing the table and of consuming food. Eating together is the foundation of the cultural identity and continuity of communities in the Mediterranean basin. It is a moment of social exchange and communication, of affirmation and refounding of the identity of the family, group or community. The Mediterranean diet emphasizes the values of hospitality, good neighborliness, intercultural dialogue and creativity, and on a way of life guided by respect for diversity. It plays an important role in cultural spaces, festivals and celebrations by bringing together populations of all ages, classes and conditions. It includes craftsmanship and the production of objects for transporting, preserving and consuming food, including ceramic dishes and glasses. Women play an essential role in the transmission of know-how and knowledge of the Mediterranean diet, in the safeguarding of techniques, in the respect of seasonal rhythms and festive punctuations of the calendar, and in the transmission of the values of the element. to new generations. Likewise, markets play a key role as spaces for the culture and transmission of the Mediterranean diet, in the daily learning of exchange, mutual respect and agreement. |  |
| The art of dry stone construction: know-how and techniques | 2018 | know-how related to traditional craftsmanship | The art of dry stone construction is the skill associated with building stone structures by stacking stones on top of each other without using any other material, except sometimes dry earth. Dry stone structures are found in most rural areas - mostly on hilly terrain - both inside and outside inhabited spaces. However, they are not absent from urban areas. The stability of the structures is ensured by a careful choice and placement of stones. The dry stone structures have shaped many and varied landscapes, allowing the development of different types of habitats, agriculture and livestock. These structures bear witness to the methods and practices used by populations from prehistoric times to modern times to organize their living and working spaces by optimizing local natural and human resources. They play an essential role in preventing landslides, floods and avalanches, combating land erosion and desertification, improving biodiversity and creating suitable micro-climatic conditions for agriculture. Bearers and practitioners are the rural communities in which the element is deeply rooted, as well as professionals in the construction sector. Dry stone structures are always made in perfect harmony with the environment and the technique is representative of a harmonious relationship between humans and nature. The practice is mainly transmitted through a practical application adapted to the specific conditions of each place. |  |
| Byzantine chant Note Cyprus shares this practice with the Greece. | 2019 | * Performing Arts * social practices, rituals and festive events * oral traditions and expressions | Living art that has endured for more than 2,000 years, Byzantine chanting constitutes both a significant cultural tradition and a complete musical system forming part of the common musical traditions that developed in the Byzantine Empire. Musically emphasizing the liturgical texts of the Greek Orthodox Church, Byzantine chant is closely linked to spiritual life and religious worship. This vocal art focuses primarily on the interpretation of the ecclesiastical text. Byzantine song undoubtedly owes its existence to the word (logos). Indeed, every aspect of this tradition serves to spread the sacred message. Passed down orally from generation to generation, it has preserved its characteristics over the centuries: it is exclusively vocal music, fundamentally monophonic; the songs are codified according to a system in eight modes or eight tones; and different styles of rhythm are used in order to emphasize the desired syllables in certain words of the liturgical text. Psaltic art has always been linked to the male voice, but female singers are numerous in convents and are active, to a certain extent, in parishes. In addition to its transmission to the church, Byzantine song thrives on the dedication of experts and amateurs - musicians, choir members, composers, musicologists and academics - who contribute to its study, performance, and dissemination. |  |
Register of Best Safeguarding Practices
Cyprus does not have a practice listed in the Register of Best Safeguarding Practices.
Emergency backup list
Cyprus does not have a practice on the Emergency Safeguarding List.
