The Ministry of Culture has announced the addition of four new items to Greece’s National Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage. This move, part of Greece’s ongoing commitment to the Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage established in 2006, highlights the country’s dedication to preserving and transmitting its cultural traditions to future generations.
The bulletins for these four elements were submitted in 2022 and 2023 and have since been meticulously processed by the Directorate of Modern Cultural Heritage, the National Scientific Committee for the Implementation of the UNESCO Convention (2003) in Greece, and the relevant community stakeholders. This collaborative effort aims to safeguard these traditions and ensure their continuity.
In line with the implementation of the UNESCO Convention, Greece has been actively enriching its National Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage. This initiative provides communities with the opportunity to highlight cultural elements that they deem significant for their identity.
The newly registered items are:
1. Manirotiko Moiroloi: This refers to the improvised mourning melody, a central part of the Maniakian mourning ritual, predominantly performed by women, also known as mourners.
2. Evagelizou: An ecclesiastical hymn dedicated to the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary, traditionally sung at dawn on the day of the Annunciation by groups of children or older individuals in the streets of Mudania Prusa and surrounding villages.
3. Thermionic Ball: A key component of the living music and dance tradition on the island of Kythnos (Thermia). This paired ballroom dance is distinctive for its “walks” compared to other island balls.
4. The Dance of the Engineer: A mimetic dance that imitates the movements of the semi-capable “caught” sponge diver affected by “diver’s disease.”
Minister of Culture Lina Mendoni, upon accepting the Commission’s recommendation for the inclusion of these four new elements, emphasised the importance of these traditions and their role in enriching Greece’s cultural heritage. She stated, “These new entries not only celebrate our diverse cultural practices but also reinforce our commitment to preserving these invaluable traditions for future generations.”
(Source: Υπουργείο Πολιτισμού)