Living traditions

Living traditions are our intangible cultural heritage. In other words, Intangible cultural heritage refers to all traditions and practices that are passed down from one generation to the next and which provide us with a sense of identity and continuity. These can range from stories and legends, to music and dance, customs and festivals, right up to traditional know-how and skills. Intangible cultural heritage is not only diverse, but also comes in all manner of forms, and, unlike our tangible cultural heritage, it is constantly evolving and changing.
The Federal Office of Culture compiled the list of Switzerland's living traditions in 2012 in collaboration with the cantons and updated it for the second time in 2023. With 29 new entries, the list now includes 228 significant forms of this cultural heritage.