The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) intangible cultural heritage elements are the non-physical traditions and practices performed by a people. As part of a country's cultural heritage, they include celebrations, festivals, performances, oral traditions, music, and the making of handicrafts. The "intangible cultural heritage" is defined by the Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage, drafted in 2003 and took effect in 2006. Inscription of new heritage elements on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists is determined by the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage, an organisation established by the convention.

Cyprus ratified the convention on 24 February 2006.

Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

Representative List Name Image Year No. Description Lefkara laces or Lefkaritika 2009 00255 A common sight in Pano Lefkara is groups of women who sit in the narrow village streets working on their fine embroidery, as they have since at least the fourteenth century. Tsiattista poetic duelling 2011 00536 The Tsiattista is a traditional oral poetic form, which is practiced with musical accompaniment of violin and lute. Mediterranean diet + 2013 00884 The Mediterranean diet is the traditional food and methods of preparation used by the people of the Mediterranean basin. Art of dry stone construction, knowledge and techniques + 2018 02106 Dry stone is a building method by which structures are constructed from stones without any mortar to bind them together. Byzantine chant + 2019 01508 Byzantine music originally consisted of the songs and hymns composed for the courtly and religious ceremonial of the Byzantine Empire and continued, after the fall of Constantinople in 1453, in the traditions of the sung Byzantine chant of Eastern Orthodox liturgy. Midwifery: knowledge, skills and practices + 2023 01968 A midwife is a health professional who cares for mothers and newborns. Commandaria wine 2025 02288 Commandaria is an amber-coloured sweet dessert wine made in the Commandaria region.

Good Safeguarding Practices Name Year No. Description Tocatì, a shared programme for the safeguarding of traditional games and sports + 2022 01709

See also List of World Heritage Sites in Cyprus

Notes

References

External links UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage: Official site UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage in Cyprus: Official site