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Mallorcan Christmas chant gains UNESCO recognition
UNESCO has named the Mallorcan Christmas chant 'El Canto de La Sibilia' as a tradition worthy of being included in it's Intangible Cultural Heritage list. The chant is performed at Matins on Christmas Eve in churches throughout Majorca to honour the Christmas Vigil.
The chant was introduced in Europe during the Middle Ages and came to Mallorca with the Christian conquest in 1229, and has essentially remained the same since then. It is performed in the majority of churches on the island, demonstrating the deep cultural roots of the ceremony. The knowledge has been passed from generation to generation, and has changed little from it's Gregorian roots.
The rite consists of a child walking through the church holding an upright sword, and singing the chant capella-style. He or she is accompanied by two or three further children who carry candles, and organ music plays in-between the verses. They are dressed in tunics with matching caps, which have been made by the local community.
UNESCO has recognised that this cultural event should be protected as it brings a strong sense of cultural identity and pride, particularly as Majorca is under continuous development as an international tourist destination.
Intangible Cultural Heritage is defined as traditions or living expressions inherited from ancestors and passed on to descendants, such as oral traditions, performing arts, social practices, rituals, festive events, knowledge and practices concerning nature and the universe or the knowledge and skills to produce traditional crafts. For more information, see the UNESCO website.
