Germany’s ‘Traditions and Customs’ are the focus of the German National Tourism Board’s (GNTB) worldwide tourism campaign for 2015. The inclusion in a nationwide inventory, of 27 traditions or living expressions inherited from our ancestors and passed on to our descendants, reveals the importance and appreciation of this almost imperceptible aspect of Germany’s intangible cultural heritage, which corresponds with selected themes being communicated by the GNTB as part of its campaign.
“According to the GNTB quality monitor, ‘Traditions and History of the Region’ is one of the top ten reasons tourists decide to visit Germany. With this new campaign, the GNTB has seized this trend to inspire foreign visitors to come and experience these elements of Germany’s intangible cultural heritage” explains Petra Hedorfer, Chief Executive Officer of the GNTB.
The Swabian–Alemannic carnival, the Rhineland Carnival in all its local variants, the Charcoal Burner’s Craft and the Tar Distillery, the Social Customs and Festivals of the Lusatian Sorbs, the Biike Burning, the Salt Panners’ Fraternity in the Valley of Halle, plus the Passion Plays of Oberammergau, German Bread Culture, Organ Construction and Organ Music are all significant examples of living customs. All have been assessed by UNESCO’s Experts Committee and approved for the nationwide inventory by the Conference of Cultural Ministers of the Federal States and will be promoted by the GNTB.
The ‘Traditions and Customs’ campaign encompasses three themes: “Culinary Specialties,” “Living Traditions” and “Arts and Crafts” linking the welcoming and modern travel destination Germany of today with the country’s living, authentic traditions.