Gloucestershire’s renowned cheese rolling event, along with other cherished cultural traditions like London’s Notting Hill Carnival and Hogmanay, could soon receive official recognition and protection as part of the UK’s heritage. The government is set to invite public submissions to nominate their favorite customs and events for inclusion in the Inventory Of Living Heritage.
The aim of this nationwide inventory is to acknowledge, raise awareness, and safeguard the crafts, customs, and celebrations that hold significance across the country. Heritage Minister Baroness Twycross emphasized the importance of preserving these rich traditions, from the exhilarating cheese rolling in Gloucestershire to the art of tartan weaving and the crafting of Welsh love spoons.
One of the standout traditions under consideration is the annual cheese rolling race at Coopers Hill, near Brockworth, where participants chase a wheel of cheese down a steep slope. Dating back centuries, this event is thought to have originated from a heathen festival celebrating the arrival of spring, and is traditionally held on the second May Bank Holiday.
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Other potential inclusions in the inventory encompass Hogmanay, synonymous with New Year celebrations in Scotland, and London’s iconic Notting Hill Carnival, an annual extravaganza of Caribbean culture. The collaboration with devolved governments will ensure that traditions from England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, as well as those brought by immigrant communities, are duly represented.
This initiative follows the UK’s commitment to the 2003 Unesco Convention on the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage, which mandates the compilation of an inventory of living heritage within each member state.
Nominations will be evaluated across seven categories, covering performing arts, crafts, festivals, and customs, with special considerations for sports and games, oral expressions, culinary practices, and nature and spirituality.