5 German traditions now considered UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage

They're known to adults and children alike: German fairy tales like Little Red Riding Hood and Cinderella, which were collected and written down in the 19th century by the Brothers Grimm. Before then, the tales were passed on orally. Telling fairy tales is still a tradition in Germany, and the practice was placed on the national list of Intangible Culture Heritage in 2017.

One of the first depictions of midwifery was in ancient Egypt, in the form of a temple painting showing the birth of sun god Ra's triplets. Midwives have played a profound role in countries around the world. In Germany, their expertise is passed from generation to generation in schools. It's more than an occupation — it's a tradition to be safeguarded, according to the German UNESCO commission.

Nowhere in Europe have they seen such success as in Germany. These competitions take place in nearly every city, and even in rural areas. People perform and compete against each other with short texts or poems they have written themselves. But how to explain the popularity? Perhaps because competitions among poets is a tradition that stretches back centuries, as far back as the Middle Ages.

This ritual in East Frisia — the northwest coastal area of Germany — is as unique as it is precise: Tea is boiled with loose tea leaves and then poured over a piece of candied sugar, known as "Kluntje." Cream is then poured in a skillful manner to create an artful cream cloud called a "Wulkje." This custom has also been on Germany's national list of Intangible Cultural Heritage since 2017.

You need three players, 32 cards and a thick skin. After all, for many Germans, skat is quite a serious business. People have played the card game skat for more than 200 years in Germany. Its origins date back to between 1810 and 1820 in Altenburg, in the eastern German state of Thuringia. Since then, it's been a game staple in pubs across the country. An estimated 20 million people play today.