EditBulgaria’s bagpipe tradition added to UNESCO’s cultural heritage list
The Intangible Cultural Heritage lists also feature numerous elements from the wider Balkan region, reflecting its diverse living traditions
Bulgaria’s gaida (bagpipe) and the craft of traditional bagpipe playing have officially been inscribed on the UNESCO list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, the organisation announced on its social media channels. The decision was adopted during the 20th session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, held this week in New Delhi, India.
The nomination, titled “Bagpipes and bagpipe playing in Bulgaria – transmission of knowledge and skills”, was approved in mid-November and confirmed during the committee’s annual meeting. It was prepared by historians and submitted in 2024 by Bulgaria’s Ministry of Culture.
The initiative drew the backing of more than 120 bagpipers and ensembles across the country, as well as local municipalities, community cultural centres and schools where traditional bagpipe playing is taught.
Under the criteria of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, a practice or craft must be transmitted from generation to generation and maintained by a community to qualify as intangible cultural heritage.
“Intangible cultural heritage is a symbol of cultural participation, diversity and vitality,” said Christoph Wulf, Vice-President of the German Commission for UNESCO for Intangible Cultural Heritage.
This year, the committee is reviewing 11 nominations for the List of Intangible cultural heritage in need of urgent safeguarding, 54 nominations for the Representative List, and one proposal for the Register of Good Safeguarding Practices.
The Bulgarian gaida now joins a series of national traditions already recognised by UNESCO. These include the Bistritsa Babi, an archaic tradition of polyphonic singing, dances and rituals from the Shoplouk region performed by elderly women in the village of Bistritsa
The ancient Thracian fire-dancing ritual Nestinarstvo, associated with the Panagyr of Saints Constantine and Helena in the village of Bulgar. The Surva folk feast in the Pernik region, an annual masquerade celebrating the New Year and the carpet-making tradition of Chiprovtsi.
UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage lists also feature numerous elements from the wider Balkan region, reflecting its diverse living traditions, performing arts, social practices and craftsmanship.
In Albania, inscribed elements include Albanian folk iso-polyphony, a choral tradition combining a sustained drone with solo singing; the xhubleta, listed for urgent safeguarding as a traditional bell-shaped skirt worn in Northern Albania; and the K’cimi dancing of Tropojë.
Bosnia and Herzegovina contributes elements such as Konjic woodcarving, the annual picking of iva grass on Ozren mountain, the grass-mowing competition in Kupres, and Zmijanje embroidery, noted for its blue-on-white patterns.
Croatia’s entries include Dalmatian Klapa multipart singing, the lacemaking traditions of Pag, Lepoglava and Hvar, the centuries-old knights’ tournament Sinjska alka, and the Mediterranean diet.
Greece is represented with Rebetiko, the urban popular song tradition of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Also Byzantine chant, central to Eastern Orthodox liturgical music and the marble craftsmanship of Tinos.
Montenegro features the Cultural Heritage of the Boka Navy Kotor, a festive expression of collective memory that includes a traditional chain dance.
From North Macedonia, the list includes the Feast of the Holy Forty Martyrs in Štip, the men’s social dance Kopachkata from Dramche, and Glasoechko, a polyphonic male two-part singing tradition inscribed on the List of Urgent Safeguarding.
Romania’s contributions include the Căluş fertility ritual, the improvisational folk song Doina, and the craftsmanship of Horezu ceramics.
Serbia is represented by Slava, the family patron saint celebration, the collective circle dance Kolo and the tradition of singing epic poetry accompanied by the single-stringed gusle.
Turkey’s entries include the Mevlevi Sema ceremony of the whirling dervishes, Turkish coffee culture and tradition, and the Mesir Macunu festival in Manisa, where a blend of 41 spices is distributed each year.
Caption: The Ilinden meadows near the Rhodope village of Gela host the great Bulgarian bagpipe festival, 3 August, 2024 BGNES/ANTON STANKOV
Updated: December 10, 2025 - 06:22
