Home UNESCO Lists Intangible Cultural Heritage Intangible Cultural Heritage in Turkey Traditional Knowledge, Methods and Practices Concerning Olive Cultivation

Traditional Knowledge, Methods and Practices Concerning Olive Cultivation

Traditional Knowledge, Methods and Practices Concerning Olive Cultivation

In Turkey, olive cultivation involves traditional methods like grafting, pruning, and fertilizing wild olive trees, called delice, along with harvesting and processing olives. These practices are rooted in traditional knowledge about soil, climate, and timing based on the folk calendar, and are enriched with rituals, festivals, and social activities that symbolize community solidarity and environmental sustainability.
The first olives of the season are picked in communal gatherings, and some are left for the needy, highlighting the practices' social and cultural significance. These traditions, passed down orally within families and villages, are now also supported by publications and educational programs.
Olive trees and leaves symbolize peace, wisdom, and harmony, reflecting their importance in fostering community cohesion and maintaining cultural identity, especially in rural areas.
Traditional Knowledge, Methods and Practices Concerning Olive Cultivation was inscribed in 2023 on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in Turkey.
by Nedim Ardoğa, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Traditional Knowledge, Methods and Practices Concerning Olive Cultivation

Date of Inscription

2023