The beekeeping tradition in Slovenia and the tradition of Lipizzaner horse breeding in Slovenia and seven other countries have made it to the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
The decision of including the beekeeping tradition in Slovenia and the tradition of Lipizzaner horse breeding in Slovenia and 7 other countries to the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity was made at the committee’s session in Morocco’s Rabat today. The traditions thus join the Škofja Loka Passion Play, the Shrovetide Kurentovanje custom, bobbin lace making and dry stone walling as the examples of heritage in Slovenia on UNESCO’s representative list.
Both bids were coordinated by the Slovenian Culture Ministry. The bid on the beekeeping tradition, entitled Beekeeping in Slovenia, a Way of Life, was based on intangible cultural heritage units that were entered on the Slovenian list of registered units of intangible heritage units including beekeeping, painting of beehive panels, mobile beekeeping, production of beehives and apiaries, breeding of Carniolan honey bee queens, apitherapy, production of wooden models, gingerbreads and licitars. After United Nations had declared World Bee Day to be celebrated on the birthday of the pioneer of modern apiculture, Slovenian apiarist Anton Janša, less than five years ago, this is another great recognition of Slovenia and its rich beekeeping tradition.
The renewed bid of Lipizzaner horse breeding tradition, filed by Slovenia on behalf of eight countries – Slovenia, Austria, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Hungary, Italy, Romania and Slovakia was also confirmed by the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage. The Slovenian Culture Ministry, which coordinated the bid, said that the Lipizzaner horse breeding had played a symbolic role in all eight countries for centuries and still represented many communities today. The bid included a broad spectrum of cultural and social practices, knowledge and skills, as well as oral traditions, celebrations and equestrian sports related to Lipizzaner breeding.
STB
