PRESS RELEASE
The traditional mandras of Lemnos have just been inscribed in the National Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage!
The Mediterranean Institute for Nature and Anthropos (MedINA) and ANEMOESSA, after two years of coordinated actions and work to support the inscription process in the Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Greece, are proud to have contributed to the official recognition of the cultural value of the mandras of Lemnos. The community of Lemnos can also be proud, not only for its undivided help in this recognition process, but also because it is the active carrier of a living memory, and we owe it a lot.
The mandras of Lemnos are an integral part of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of the island. They form the core of the island’s unique system of agropastoral management, and they contribute to the biodiversity, microclimate, landscape and the conservation of traditional agricultural practices, while they constitute cultural capital that shapes the socio-economic structures. Around them a rich system of facilities, pastures, crops and human relations develop, interacting in a complementary, integrated and sustainable way, allowing people to survive for centuries. They act as an emblematic symbol on the land, encapsulating the meaning of the existence of the cultural heritage of the place and are an inspiration for sustainable development based on traditional knowledge and wise use of natural resources.
In October 2021, ANEMOESSA and MedINA organised the open event “The Intangible Cultural Heritage of Lemnos: the living memory of the place carries on and mobilises”, with guests –among others– the director of the competent directorate of the Ministry of Culture and a representative of the Academy of Athens – professor at the Hellenic Open University. Through the discussions that took place, it was once again established that the identity of Lemnos is undoubtedly linked to its agropastoral culture, which –together with its geopolitical location– was decisive for its history and shaped a collective memory of millennia that remains alive and is reflected in its unique landscape.
The concept of ICH encompasses a set of ideas, values, choices and emotions, such as oral traditions, traditional music, dances, customs, rituals, traditional knowledge and techniques, as well as the local cuisine that is still associated with rural communities today. These elements are not a museum item but the living tradition of the place and cultural and economic wealth that is adapted to the circumstances.
At MedINA and ANEMOESSA we expect this important recognition to be a tool for the promotion of Lemnian mandras, the development of the island and the promotion of modern sustainable practices that respond to the challenges of climate change, enhancing biodiversity and participating in building a better future for all.
