Masterpieces of Oral and Intangible Culture

On May 18, 2001, the first UNESCO Proclamation of Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity took place in Paris. Nineteen traditional cultural expressions were inscribed on the World Heritage List. These masterpieces are extremely varied, covering all sorts of sociocultural phenomena ranging from theater and music to folklore and traditional royal and popular rituals. UNESCO has become famous for protecting world heritage, particularly important monuments but also archaeological sites and landscapes. From now on it will explicitly include on its World Heritage List masterpieces of oral and intangible culture that are endan-