Intangible cultural heritage is made up of non-material elements; it is the spirit of a culture. In a broader sense, it could be defined as «the collection of distinctive spiritual, material, intellectual and emotional traits that characterize a particular society or social group». This includes basic human rights, values, traditions and beliefs.
A culture’s intangible cultural heritage is made up of countless expressions, like poetry, rites, way of life, traditional medicine, different languages, popular religion, mannerisms, music, religious and festive dances, cuisine, myths and legends, riddles, lullabies, carols, sayings, popular characters and children’s games, among others.
The chilote people have a rich intangible cultural heritage that has withstood the passage of time. We have to mention its cuisine, so particular and authentic. It makes the best of the great variety of potatoes that grow in this area. There’s also their dances and music, a reflection of the many cultural influences obtained from the aboriginal cultures and foreign settlers, especially Spaniards. Other customs that are typical on this island are the minga and the great amount of stories starring mythological beings.
