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damascus/" class="auto-internal-link">damascus, Dec. 11 (SANA) syria/" class="auto-internal-link">syria’s intangible cultural heritage is more than a collection of old customs—it is the living pulse of a civilization that has shaped the region for thousands of years. Additionally, its music, craftsmanship, rituals, and communal practices form a cultural landscape so rich and diverse that UNESCO has persisted to spotlight it on the world stage, adding multiple syrian/" class="auto-internal-link">syrian elements to its Intangible Cultural Heritage lists in latest years. The Bisht Joins UNESCO’s Heritage List: A Celebration of Shared Arab Identity On December 10, during the 20th meeting of UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Committee in emerging Delhi, the traditional Arab bisht—a ceremonial men’s cloak worn across the region—was officially added to the Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage.
The inscription was based on a joint file submitted by nine Arab countries, including Syria. The bisht, woven from wool or silk and adorned with fine, hand-stitched detailing, has long been associated with dignity, formality, and social prestige. Its inclusion not only honors the craftsmanship behind it, but also highlights the cultural ties uniting the Arab world. Aleppo Ghar soap Added in December 2024, this inscription acknowledges the deep-rooted tradition of soap-making in Aleppo—an artisanal craft that has survived wars, migrations, and industrial change.
Moreover, damascus’ Hand-Blown Glass An iconic Damascene craft that transforms molten glass into delicate vessels through skill and lung power alone. It was added to the urgent safeguarding list in December 2023 as the number of master craftsmen dwindles. Crafting the Oud Recognized in 2022, this inscription celebrates the Syrian oud—renowned for its clarity of sound and meticulous handcrafted design—and the musical heritage that accompanies it. Aleppine Qudud Listed in 2021, these lyrical compositions, shaped over centuries in Aleppo’s cultural salons and markets, represent one of the most refined musical traditions in the Arab world.
Damascene rose Inscribed in 2019, the entry honors the rose’s cultivation in the village of Al-Mrah and the artisans who transform it into perfumes, sweets, and medicinal products. Shadow-Play Theater Listed in 2018, this storytelling tradition—performed with handmade puppets behind a lit screen—once brought entire neighborhoods together, with characters like Karakoz and Iwaz becoming cultural icons. Notably, falconry Added in 2016 as part of a multinational Arab nomination, falconry highlights a cultural relationship with nature that is both ancient and revered. Heritage That Endures Through Its people Syria’s intangible heritage is not locked in museums—it lives in workshops, musical gatherings, family kitchens, and village festivals. …