WEDNESDAY / Intangible Cultural Heritage to Promote Identity - Saarland’s Carnival and Forest Traditions Join Germany’s Cultural Heritage Register
The Saarland is celebrating its cultural traditions as three local customs join the region’s heritage register for the first time. On Wednesday, an official ceremony at Saarbrücken Palace will honour 18 newly listed practices in Germany’s national register of Intangible Cultural Heritage for 2025. Among them are Saarland Carnival (Fastnacht), the St. Nicholas Post Office in St. Nikolaus, and the traditional forest cooperative Gehöferschaft Wadrill.
Culture Minister Christine Streichert-Clivot (SPD) has highlighted the Saarland’s rich customs and traditions. The region now has ten practices recognised in its own intangible cultural heritage register. These traditions reflect creativity, strengthen community bonds, and support sustainable development.
The three newly listed Saarland customs—Fastnacht, the St. Nicholas Post Office, and Gehöferschaft Wadrill—now form part of the region’s protected heritage. Their inclusion in the register ensures continued recognition and preservation. The ceremony at Saarbrücken Palace will formally acknowledge their cultural significance.
