Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
President Aoun: We urge the activation of the monitoring committee, the cessation of hostilities, ongoing Israeli violations, attacks
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun to US Envoy Morgan Ortagus: Southerners must be enabled to return to their homes and rebuild
Syrian sources: The Israeli occupation has begun withdrawing from the areas it infiltrated last night in the Quneitra countryside.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Massive bombings in eastern Gaza, the second within half an hour, and its sound was heard from central area.
Russian air defense units destroyed a drone that was heading toward Moscow.
Maduro: Tomorrow, a business meeting will be held bringing together hundreds of entrepreneurs from advanced Russian industries with hundreds of Venezuelan businesspeople.
Maduro: In the face of threats, Trinidad and Tobago agreed to suspend all effects of the energy agreement and everything that had been agreed upon in that regard.
Maduro: It’s time to make a choice, either stand with the warmongers who want death and violence, or stand with life.
Maduro: They want our wealth. This is not about drug trafficking, and they know it.
Maduro: Everyone in the world knows that what the economic elite ruling the United States seeks today is Venezuela’s oil, gas, and gold.

UNESCO adds Palestinian embroidery, calligraphy & more to its list

  • By Al Mayadeen Net
  • Source: UNESCO
  • 16 Dec 2021 00:02
3 Min Read

A number of art forms, from Palestinian embroidery to Aleppo music, are added to the Intangible Cultural Heritage list.

  • x
  • UNESCO adds Palestinian embroidery, calligraphy and more to its list
    Arabic calligraphy - harmony, grace, and beauty. 

UNESCO has added a series of art to Intangible Cultural Heritage, including Arabic calligraphy, Al-Qudoud al-Halabiya - or traditional Aleppo music - Palestinian embroidery, Iraqi waterwheel craft skills, and Bahraini art. 

This decision came after the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage meetings which began on December 13 and end on December 18, 2021. 

The committee, composed of 24 elected state representatives took into consideration 55 applications for art "candidates," which include 45 applications for joining the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, 5 requests for inclusion in the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding, and 5 proposals for the inclusion for the Register of Good Safeguarding Practices. 

On its official website, UNESCO wrote that "Arabic calligraphy is the artistic practice of handwriting Arabic script in a fluid manner to convey harmony, grace, and beauty," also saying, "The fluidity of Arabic script offers infinite possibilities, even within a single word, as letters can be stretched and transformed in numerous ways to create different motifs." 

Addressing the techniques of calligraphy, it was written that "Traditional techniques use natural materials, such as reeds and bamboo stems for the Qalam, or writing instrument. A mixture of honey, black soot, and saffron is used for the ink, and the paper is handmade and treated with starch, egg white, and alum."

🔴 BREAKING

New inscription on the #IntangibleHeritage list: Arabic calligraphy: knowledge, skills and practices.

Congratulations 🇸🇦 - 🇩🇿 - 🇧🇭 - 🇪🇬 - 🇮🇶 - 🇯🇴 - 🇰🇼 - 🇱🇧 - 🇲🇷 - 🇲🇦 - 🇴🇲 - 🇵🇸 - 🇸🇩 - 🇹🇳 - 🇦🇪 - 🇾🇪! 👏

ℹ️ https://t.co/Gth22Prdqm #LivingHeritage pic.twitter.com/jayJ86Tnfk

— UNESCO 🏛️ #Education #Sciences #Culture 🇺🇳😷 (@UNESCO) December 14, 2021

Related News

Palestinian embroidery: A thread that defines a whole identity

As the number of calligraphers declines, UNESCO's announcement comes to strengthen the position of the art of Arabic calligraphy and preserve it as a heritage and cultural symbol in the Arab and Islamic worlds. To counter this decline, 16 Muslim or Muslim-majority countries had jointly sought to include calligraphy on this list.

Al-Qudoud al-Halabiya

As for the Aleppo music, or Al-Qudoud al-Halabiya, UNESCO explained that "Al-Qudoud al-Halabiya is a form of traditional music from Aleppo with a fixed melody. Sung for religious and entertainment purposes, the lyrics vary according to the type of event. Well-versed singers can improvise lyrics according to what is happening around them."

The music form is also a symbol of resilience as "Qudoud is a vital part of Aleppan culture and is viewed as a source of resilience, particularly during war."

Palestinian embroidery

As for the Palestinian embroidery, which is a quintessential part of Palestinian culture, UNESCO said "each of these garments is embroidered with a variety of symbols including birds, trees, and flowers. The choice of colors and designs indicates the woman’s regional identity and marital and economic status."

🔴 BREAKING

The art of embroidery in Palestine, practices, skills, knowledge and rituals, has just been inscribed on the #IntangibleHeritage list.

Congratulations #Palestine 🇵🇸! 👏

ℹ️https://t.co/MAFqWve4X0 #LivingHeritage pic.twitter.com/H6kOnlwKum

— UNESCO 🏛️ #Education #Sciences #Culture 🇺🇳😷 (@UNESCO) December 15, 2021

Furthermore, "embroidery is sewn with silk thread on wool, linen or cotton. Embroidery is a social and intergenerational practice, as women gather in each other’s homes to practice embroidery and sewing, often with their daughters."

The Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity today includes 492 elements and aims to highlight and raise awareness of cultural practices and skills of local communities.

As for the number of items included today in the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding, 67 items are included; the list includes living heritage items that are in danger of extinction.

  • UNESCO
  • Nuclear Deal
  • Palestinian embroidery
  • Arabic calligraphy
  • Al-Qudoud al-Halabiya

Most Read

'Israel’s Digital Iron Dome: Weaponizing the web against Palestine

'Israel’s Digital Iron Dome: Weaponizing the web against Palestine

  • Technology
  • 24 Oct 2025
Arab League chief exposes secret US deal shielding 'Israel’s' nukes

Arab League chief exposes secret US deal shielding 'Israel’s' nukes

  • Politics
  • 27 Oct 2025
Abu Hamza, the spokesperson for the Al-Quds Brigades, during a speech televised on October 22, 2025 (Al-Quds Brigades Military Media)

Al-Quds Brigades' Abu Hamza mourns leaders, vows continued resistance

  • Politics
  • 22 Oct 2025
US missionary kidnapped in Niger capital, suspected taken toward Mali

US missionary kidnapped in Niger capital, suspected taken toward Mali

  • Africa
  • 23 Oct 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
Delta Air Lines flight lands at Harry Reid International Airport, Wednesday, April 9, 2025, in Las Vegas (AP)
Politics

Nearly 3,800 US flights disrupted amid ongoing government shutdown

FILE - The Amazon logo is pictured at the Amazon Robotic Sorting Fulfillment Center in Madison County, Miss., Aug. 11, 2022. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis, File)
Economy

Amazon to cut 30,000 jobs in largest layoff in company history

Eurofighter Typhoon Spain's Air Force fighter jets fly above the military parade marking 'Día de la Hispanidad', or Hispanic Day, in Madrid, Spain, Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025. (AP)
Politics

UK sells 20 Eurofighter jets to Türkiye in £8bln defense agreement

Smoke billows after drone strikes by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) targeted the northern port in the Red Sea city of Port Sudan, Sudan, May 6, 2025 (AP)
Politics

RSF tighten El Fasher siege as Sudan risks fragmentation: Reuters

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS