TRADITIONAL Myanma Ata Thingyan Festival was recognized as a world intangible cultural heritage on 5 December 2024, marking a great victory for Myanmar in the cultural sector. Reportedly, a plan is underway to submit a proposal for Myanma Thanaka to be recognized as an intangible cultural heritage of the world. As the third step, Myanmar’s tradition of consuming tea leaves and related products will be submitted to seek recognition in the world’s list next year for consideration.
As Myanmar has been home to hundreds of ethnic groups for thousands of years, historically and culturally valuable ancient landmarks, sites, and artefacts are scattered across the nation. These represent both tangible and intangible cultural heritage. In 2014, Myanmar signed UNESCO’s Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage. As a member, the country has been actively working to protect and preserve its intangible cultural heritage while continuing to identify more.
Currently, a total of 2,289 intangible cultural heritage elements from all ethnic groups across Myanmar have been recorded in five categories: languages and dialects, oral traditions and narratives, entertainment and fine arts, social traditions and performing arts, and knowledge and customs related to nature and humanity. Hence, preparations are being made to submit the proposal to the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity of UNESCO.
The tea culture in Myanmar is one of the oldest among global tea traditions. There is a saying in Myanmar: “Pork is the best meal, mango is the best fruit, and tea is the best leaf for delicious consumption.” The latter has been a traditional delicacy in Myanmar culture regarding dried and fresh tea leaves. During the monarchical era, Myanmar kings recognized fresh tea leaves as a royal delicacy, often displaying them at royal ceremonies. Moreover, people from all walks of life consume fresh tea leaves in various forms, keeping tea leaves in pots at their homes. Even in the royal court in Myanmar’s monarchical era, judges sometimes ordered disputes to be settled over a shared consumption of tea leaves. Moreover, tea leave is essential for all occasions and social and religious ceremonies in Myanmar.
As countries around the world strive to preserve their cultural heritage, they also work hard to submit their intangible cultural practices for recognition on the global list. However, countries that fail to their intangible cultural heritage systematically may risk other nations with similar practices claiming them as their own.
