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Estonian smoke sauna custom included in UNESCO intangible cultural heritage list

BC, Tallinn, 27.11.2014.Print version
The UNESCO intangible cultural heritage committee decided in it session in Paris to include the smoke sauna customs of the South East Estonian Võrumaa region in the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, LETA/Postimees Online reports.

Estonia submitted the corresponding application in March last year.

 

"The vitality of the Estonian culture is manifested particularly genuinely in spiritual heritage, which is transferred from generation to generation. Including the Võro people's smoke sauna customs in the UNESCO Representative List supports continuation of the tradition and brings international attention to it," said the Minister of Culture Urve Tiidus.

 

The smoke sauna tradition is an important part of everyday life in the Võro community of Estonia. It comprises a rich set of traditions including the actual bathing customs, the skills of making bath whisks, building and repairing saunas, and smoking meat in the sauna.

 

The aim of the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity is to introduce the knowledge, skills, customs and traditions that go from generation to generation and that communities consider important nowadays and take care to make sure they last. Previously the list included from Estonia the Kihnu cultural space, Seto Leelo, the Seto polyphonic singing tradition and together with Latvia and Lithuania, the Baltic song and dance celebrations.






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