On the afternoon of 5 December 2024 Norwegian time, popular use of the Norwegian bunad was inscribed on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage. It happened at the annual session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, which in 2024 was held on 2–7 December in Asunción in Paraguay.
The nomination application was prepared by the Norwegian Institute of Bunad and Folk Costume in cooperation with the Norwegian Youth Association, the Norwegian Folk Art and Craft Association, the Norwegian Folk Costume Forum and the Association for Studies of Culture and Traditions. Work on the application began all the way back in 2017, and will continue after the inscription, but the most important task now is to safeguard the bunad's future existence through good educational opportunities, among other things.
The inscription of the bunad was probably one of the decisions that attracted most attention in Paraguay, not least because almost everyone from Norway in attendance wore bunads at the inscription ceremony as well as on the days before and after. After the Norwegian delegation gave its acceptance speeches, so many representatives from other countries came forward to offer their congratulations that they formed one of the longest lines of well-wishers during the entire conference.
We are proud and delighted, but as we said, we will continue our work on promoting the bunad in the coming years. Congratulations to all the parties involved and to all bunad wearers!
- 1/1
The moment the nomination was marked as approved and thereby inscribed. Photo: Solveig Strand.
- 1/1
The Norwegian delegation celebrates. Photo: Solveig Strand.
- 1/1
A tiny section of the long line of well-wishes. Photo: Solveig Strand.
- 1/1
The official presentation of the certificate of inscription. Photo: Solveig Strand.
