Swiss Yodeling Seeks UNESCO Heritage Status: A Melodic Mountain Tradition Aims for Global Recognition

In a bid to preserve a centuries-old vocal tradition, the Swiss government is seeking UNESCO recognition for yodeling as an intangible cultural heritage. Once primarily the domain of male herders in the Swiss Alps, yodeling has since evolved into a popular form of singing, with over 12,000 yodelers participating through 780 groups across the country.

The Swiss government's request to UNESCO comes as the tradition continues to evolve and adapt. While yodeling was once characterized by the wordless, falsetto-driven calls of herders, it has since expanded to include verses and refrains, as well as finding its way into classical, jazz, and folk music. In recent years, the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts has even become the first Swiss university to offer yodeling courses, further cementing its place in the country's cultural landscape.

If successful, the UNESCO designation would help raise global awareness of yodeling and its significance to Swiss identity. "For me, actually, in Switzerland we have four languages but I think really we have five languages. We have a fifth: The yodel," said Nadja Rass, a professor at the Lucerne university. With a decision expected by the end of 2025, Switzerland's bid to enshrine yodeling as an intangible cultural heritage could secure the future of this unique and enduring vocal tradition.