UNESCO closed its meeting on Intangible Cultural Heritage in Addis Ababa Friday (Dec. 2, 2016) with 17 new additions to the list of cultural traditions. That brings the list to a total of 366 dances, festivals, foods, songs, rituals and other traditions that have received UNESCO recognition since the "Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity" list's inception in 2008.

Among the latest additions are India's yoga practice, Venezuelan Carnival traditions, the Swiss village of Vevey's wine festival held every twenty-odd years, Belgian beer and Germany's idea of the cooperative. Religious customs now on the list include Iraq's festival honoring the prophet Khidr and the Slovenian Passion play "Skofja Loka."

The festivals and practices were selected for inclusion by representatives from 24 nations after an evaluation based on five criteria. The list also includes several entries deemed as "in need of urgent safeguarding" due to endangerment.

ct/als (with dpa)