Saarland celebrates: Fastnacht and traditions honored as a cultural heritage!

Saarland celebrates: Fastnacht and traditions honored as a cultural heritage!

On March 26, 2025, the admission of three Saarland forms of culture was announced in a significant decision by the Conference of Culture Ministers in the Federal Distribution of the Intensive Cultural Heritage. These include the Saarland Fastnacht, the Wadrill homestead and the St. Nicholas Nicholaspost Office. This admission takes place on the basis of a proposal of the voluntary committee of the German UNESCO Commission, as reported [Saarland.de].

Minister of Culture Christine Streichert-Clivot emphasized the immense importance of cultural diversity in Saarland at the announcement. Despite the many challenges with which cultural traditions are confronted, UNESCO has been supporting the preservation of living traditions in different areas of intangible cultural heritage for around 20 years.

traditional festivals and community projects

The Saarland Fastnacht is an outstanding form of carnival in the country. It is actively cultivated in numerous carnival associations and companies. Fastnacht not only reflects the local identity, but also reflects current social debates and topics such as sustainability. Stefan Regert, President of the Association of Saarland Carnival Associations e.V., described the recording as a "milestone in the history of Shrovetide".

The Wadrill homestead has a centuries -old tradition and stands for the joint management of forest ownership. Your goal is the sustainable management of healthy mixed forests. Albert Räsch from the Wadrilltal history workshop emphasizes the importance of this cooperative forest management, which not only creates ecological but also social value for the region.

The Nikolauspostamt in St. Nikolaus, which has answered over 30,000 letters from children from all over the world every year since 1966, has not only established itself as a particularly loving tradition, but is also recognized for its importance for the community. Peter Gerecke from the St. Nikolaus festival committee expressed his pride in the admission to the federal directory and thanked Deutsche Post for the support.

a list of cultural forms of expression

In Saarland there has been a directory since spring 2022 in which intangible cultural forms are collected. This directory has now recorded ten cultural forms, including the Perspectives Festival and the rising song. The Saarland state directory is managed on the basis of the recommendations of an independent jury that takes into account the criteria of UNESCO Convention to maintain intangible cultural heritage. The directory lists, among other things, the mountain music, which is endangered in the course of the decline in mining, as well as the Francophone Festival Primeurs, which were recorded in 2025, as [sr.] noted.

From April 1, 2025, cultural forms in Saarland have the opportunity to apply for admission to the state directory. The deadline for submitting applications ends on October 31, 2025.

Media contact for these concerns is Jannica Hümbert, deputy press spokeswoman in Saarbrücken.

The recognition of this diverse traditions underlines the appreciation of the intangible cultural heritage in Saarland and promotes the cultural identity of the region, which is characterized by its wealth of traditions and community projects.