Communities across Wales will be able to nominate their most
cherished traditions to be included in a new register of cultural
heritage in the UK.
Festive favourites, such as the Nos Galan road races, 3am carol
singing and the Mari Lwyd could all be formally recognised.
Seasonal celebrations taking place at St David’s Day, the Royal
Welsh Show, St Dwynwen’s Day and the tradition of holding
Eisteddfodau, where all cultural activities including singing and
spoken word are conducted in the Welsh language, could also be
included.
Traditions that are central to Welsh culture, identity and
communities, from the Urdd, to the playing of the Welsh harp and
the spoken word art of Cerdd Dafod are expected to also be put
forward for a UK-wide official inventory.
Modern day events like bog-snorkelling in Llanwrtyd Wells and the
famous Elvis Festival in Porthcawl could be registered alongside
more long-standing activities such as singing in male voice
choirs.
Artisanal crafts such as slate-carving, making lovespoons and the
art of making traditional Welsh cakes with a bakestone, together
with the practitioners of these traditions, will also be
considered.
The selected Welsh traditions will sit alongside valued
traditions from across the rest of the UK, from bagpipe-playing
and Highland dancing to cheese-rolling and the art of basket
weaving.
It comes as the UK Government has confirmed its intention to
ratify the 2003 UNESCO Convention for Safeguarding of the
Intangible Cultural Heritage, which seeks to protect the crafts,
practices, and traditions which are recognised as being key part
of national life and providing a sense of identity to
communities.
These practices are often also referred to as ‘intangible
cultural heritage’ or ‘living heritage’ and are inherited from
our ancestors and passed on to our descendants.
Arts and Heritage Minister of Whitley Bay said:
The UK is rich in traditions which have been passed down from
generation to generation – with the music and culture of Wales
adding significantly to that richness.
These crafts, customs, and celebrations have helped to shape our
communities and bring people together, who continue to shape them
in turn.
By ratifying this Convention, we will be able to celebrate
treasured traditions from every corner of the country, support
the people who practise them, and ensure that they are passed
down for future generations to enjoy.
Welsh Secretary David TC Davies said:
We have a huge number of wonderful traditions and customs in
Wales that help make our nation unique and distinct and it’s
great that many of these will now be formally recorded and
recognised.
It’s important to preserve and protect living heritage, as well
as physical landmarks and heritage sites, to pass onto future
generations and maintain our special Welsh culture.
By ratifying the Convention, the UK Government will be able to
recognise our most important crafts and traditions in the same
way as we have considered our physical heritage sites such as the
Slate Landscape of Northwest Wales, the Castles and Town Walls of
King Edward I, the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and Canal, and the
Blaenavon Industrial Landscape.
As intangible cultural heritage can only be considered as such
when it is recognised by the communities, groups or individuals
that create, maintain and share it, it will be these groups and
people from across Wales who will be able to nominate their
favourite traditions to be formally recognised.
A public consultation launched today will seek the public’s views
on the UK Government’s proposed approach to implementing the
Convention across the UK to safeguard valued traditions. This
will include the approach to how people will be able to nominate
traditions, how they will be adjudicated, and any criteria that
the nominated practices will need to meet before they are
considered.
The UK Government has been working closely with the Devolved
Administrations, the Crown Dependencies and Overseas Territories
in the run up to this decision and will continue to do so in
order to implement the Convention and collate the UK-wide
inventory, which is expected to launch for nominations next year.
