The Institute also intends to reinforce the promotion of Intangible Cultural Heritage, encouraging public participation and recognizing organizations involved in safeguarding traditional practices. The first group, made up of 19 entities, was officially designated at the end of October.
These safeguarding entities are responsible for protecting the specific heritage elements with which they are associated, ensuring training for the transmission of knowledge and skills, as well as carrying out public awareness initiatives. Among these organizations, the Macau Tourism University stands out, as an entity that safeguards Macanese gastronomy, and the Macau Fresh Fish Traders Association, responsible for preserving the traditional Drunken Dragon Festival.
On the Macau Intangible Cultural Heritage List since 2019 are…
• Canton opera
• Cantonese naamyam (narrative songs)
• Taoist ritual music
• Theater in Patuá
• Beliefs and customs of A-Má
• Beliefs and customs of Na Tcha
• Drunken Dragon Festival
• Procession of Our Lord of Bom Jesus dos Passos
• Procession of Our Lady of Fátima
• Preparation of herbal teas
• Religious wooden sculptures
• Macanese gastronomy
New elements entered: beliefs and customs of Tou Tei
Tou Tei Kung is a widely revered popular Chinese deity, considered the guardian of the Earth, life, health and prosperity. In Macau, there are around 10 temples and more than 160 altars dedicated to this deity, in addition to small individual tablets placed at the entrances of houses and commercial establishments.
The festivities in honor of Tou Tei take place on the second day of the second lunar month, with prayers, lion dances, Chinese opera performances in honor of the deities, community banquets, among other celebrations held in various temples.
These beliefs and respective customs were included, in 2021, in the National List of Representative Elements of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of China.
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