From oil-slicked wrestlers in Turkey to whistled speech in Spain, UNESCO celebrates rituals that connect communities, defy expectations, and keep living heritage alive.
1
Every summer in Edirne, wrestlers douse themselves in olive oil and grapple for the “Golden Belt” in a 650-year-old tradition UNESCO honored in 2010.
2
In La Gomera’s steep ravines, villagers converse through “Silbo Gomero,” a melodic whistle system echoing across valleys to carry messages miles away.
3
Each year, Wodaabe men in elaborate face paint gather at In-Gall to compete in the Guérewol festival, dancing and singing to win a mate’s favor.
4
Communities in Niger maintain harmony through formalized “joking” ties—ritual teasing and laughter that resolve conflicts and strengthen social bonds.
5
On Beqa Island, ritual firewalkers tread barefoot over glowing embers in a centuries‑old ceremony believed to honor ancestral spirits and test courage.
6
Young Hamar men leap across the backs of five bulls in a rite of passage; success signals readiness for marriage in this dramatic Ethiopian highland ritual.