A validation, if one were needed, for this typically French know-how.
The inscription of the French baguette, was validated this Wednesday by the Intangible Cultural Heritage Committee of Unesco.
“New inscription on the List of Intangible Heritage: artisanal know-how and the culture of baguette bread.
Congratulations to France!
“, tweeted Unesco in the process.
This committee, chaired by Morocco, has been examining 56 registration applications since Monday, four of which require urgent safeguarding, such as the art of pottery of the Cham people in Vietnam.
🔴 FLASH INFO
New entry on the List of #IntangibleHeritage: Craftsmanship and the culture of baguette bread.
Congratulations to #France 🇫🇷!
ℹ️ https://t.co/ruytZ2jTnJ #LivingHeritage pic.twitter.com/IQHcv5MYjy
— UNESCO in French (@UNESCO_fr) November 30, 2022
This is the first time that it has been face-to-face after two successive annual sessions (2020 and 2021) held online due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Among the most prominent issues were our baguette, as well as popular raï singing for Algeria, fairgrounds (France and Belgium), the culture of "chaï/tea" (Azerbaijan and Turkey), traditional tea processing techniques (China), rubab, lute from Central Asia (Iran/Tajikistan/Afghanistan), slivovitz, plum brandy from Serbia, light rum (Cuba), or the know-how make and culinary practices around harissa, the traditional Tunisian condiment.
530 registered elements
In order to avoid controversy, Unesco honors above all traditions, practices and know-how to be safeguarded.
Also it will not recognize that the baguette belongs to the intangible world heritage but that "the craftsmanship and the culture of the baguette" are part of it.
Adopted in October 2003 and ratified by 180 countries, the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage promotes the safeguarding of the knowledge and know-how necessary for traditional craftsmanship.
A tool of cultural diplomacy, it also rewards "cultural practices transmitted from generation to generation, such as oral traditions, performing arts, social practices, rituals and festive events or even knowledge and practices concerning nature and the universe. ".
The list of the intangible cultural heritage of humanity now has 530 inscribed elements, 72 of which require urgent safeguarding.
