If you had to make sure to protect one UK tradition, what would it be? You could soon have your say, as the government is rolling out the new Inventory of Living Heritage in the UK. As many local customs have died around the world over the centuries due to being forgotten, the nation’s favourite traditions are to be immortalised and protected as important UK heritage.
The Inventory of Living Heritage in the UK is set to start the conversation of what should be included, with the Government soon opening up submissions for the public to have their say. The list is created after the country signed the 2003 UNESCO Convention on the Safeguarding of Intangible Culture Heritage.
The inventory consists of seven categories, including performing arts, crafts and social practiceslike festivals and customs. Moreover, sports and games is another category, as well as oral expressions, such as poetry and storytelling, culinary practices, and nature, land and spirituality.
As a result, Notting Hill CarnivalHighland dancing, cheese rolling and Hogmanay could all be included in the Inventory of Living Heritage.
London’s Notting Hill Carnivalan annual Caribbean event that has been around for over 50 years, now one of the largest street parties in the world, and could be included in the inventory.
Possibly the most unique of British traditions, cheese rolling sees competitors chase a wheel of cheese down a steep hill in Gloucestershire to celebrate the return of Spring. Hogmanay is another huge Scottish tradition, marking four days of New Year Celebrations. Hogmanay also means Scotland gets a Bank Holiday on January 2, only getting Good Friday off as a result.
Heritage minister Baroness Twycross said: “The UK is rich with wonderful traditions, from Gloucestershire’s cheese rolling to folk music and dancing and the many heritage crafts that we practice, such as tartan weaving and carving Welsh love spoons.
I would encourage everyone to think about what traditions they value so that we can continue to celebrate them, tell our national story to the rest of the world and safeguard the traditions that make us who we are.”
The Government will work with communities from England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and their devolved governments to consider submissions and create the new Inventory of Living Heritage in the UK, including traditions brought over to the country by immigrants.
