Inscribed Swiss traditions / UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage
Swiss traditions
The following Swiss traditions have been inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity (chronological order):
Winegrowers' Festival in Vevey
The Winegrowers’ Festival in Vevey is a major event celebrating agriculture and winegrowing. The timing of the festival, which takes place around five times a century, reflects the life of a grape vine and the length of a human generation. It mobilises the whole town for several weeks and involves a large number of volunteers. The various shows, musical creations and costumes developed for each edition are also an important source of local creativity.
Basel Carnival
Basel Carnival is an event that is famous well beyond the local area and even outside of Switzerland. It is Switzerland’s largest carnival event and a rare example of a traditionally protestant carnival celebration. It is a key part of the identity of the people of Basel and includes an array of musical, oral, and craftsmanship practices that belong to intangible cultural heritage.
Avalanche risk management
This tradition is part of the winter heritage of Alpine regions. It comprises various techniques developed to ensure human safety in regions at high altitude through ever more advanced knowledge and understanding of snow cover and of the “vagaries of the mountains”. It refers to the links established by Alpine populations with their environment and to the association of ancient know-how with cutting-edge science. The combination of tradition and technical sophistication make this a highly original nomination.
Holy Week processions in Mendrisio
These Holy Week processions are among the most important festivals in Italian-speaking Switzerland and have existed since the 17th century. They mark Maundy Thursday and Good Friday, in other words the Last Supper and Jesus’ death by crucifixion. Besides the religious function, the processions also have a significant artistic and craftsmanship element: the production of lanterns and transparenti – translucent paintings mounted on wooden frames that light up the route of the processions and feature symbolic or biblical motifs. Some of these are over 100 years old and are preserved and used alongside more contemporary creations.
Craftsmanship of mechanical watchmaking and art mechanics
The skills and know-how related to mechanical watchmaking are characteristic of the success of the Swiss industry and underpin watchmaking as cultural heritage. This nomination highlights the importance of training in watchmaking and human dexterity, which remain as essential as ever to innovation and technical precision. The focus is also on the local tradition of Sainte-Croix in the manufacture of music automatons and music boxes – art mechanics – which involve related skills and know-how.
Alpine pasture season
Jodel
Diese Tradition gehört zum musikalischen Kulturerbe der Schweiz, das seinerseits eng mit dem Kultur- und Vereinsleben verbunden ist. Das Jodeln umfasst zahlreiche verschiedene Stilrichtungen und erfährt eine ständige Erneuerung, unter anderem im Austausch mit anderen Musikgattungen. Die altüberlieferte Stimmtechnik, die ursprünglich zur Verständigung über weite Strecken verwendet wurde (Naturjodel), kann mit Singpraktiken in anderen Ländern verglichen werden. Eine gemeinsame Kandidatur zusammen mit anderen Regionen des Alpenbogens mit ähnlichen Traditionen ist denkbar.
Multinational traditions
In collaboration with other countries, these traditions, which are established in Switzerland, have been inscribed as multinational elements on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity:
Dry stone walling
Alpinism
Traditional irrigation: knowledge, technique and organisation
Federal Office of Culture
Section Culture and society
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