The inclusion of the custom ‘men’s group caroling’ in the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List shows that the winter customs of Moldova are valuable at world level, vice director of the National Museum of Ethnography and Natural History Varvara Buzila said in a discussion with journalists held on this occasion, IPN reports.

Minister of Culture Monica Babuc said that one of the UNESCO conditions was to promote the custom live. Thus, the ‘men’s group caroling’ contributed to the informing of people from all over the world about how nice, unique and full of people’s philosophy the carols are. “In the Republic of Moldova, they sing carols less and less. Our obligation is to make sure that the winter customs are learned and promoted in all the education institutions,” she stated.

Deputy Minister of Culture Gheorghe Postica said it was an honor for him to be near the colleagues ethnographers from other countries, who compiled the file ‘Men’s group caroling’. From now on, the Ministry will have to do more to protect, keep, conserve and develop the immaterial cultural heritage, especially group caroling,” said the deputy minister.

Secretary General of the UNESCO National Commission of Moldova Constantin Rusnac said that Moldova was the last country that ratified the World Heritage Convention of 1972. However, it was among the first countries that ratified it. “The folklore cannot be banned by any political regime. It develops by its own rules,” he stated.

The custom ‘men’s group caroling’ was included in the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List in Baku on December 5. Currently, the list contains 257 titles from all over the world.