El Salvador

Inscribed in 2025 (20.COM) on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

The Confraternity of flowers and palms is a traditional celebration that blends indigenous beliefs with Catholic practices in the community of Panchimalco. The event coincides with the beginning of the rainy and harvest season and is characterized by a procession of palms decorated with wildflowers. This procession, which attracts visitors from around the world, is accompanied by traditional dances, music, prayers and the preparation of special foods made with rice, corn, cocoa and herbs. Children wear traditional clothing made from handwoven fabrics and carry images of the Virgin.

The Confraternity of Flowers and Palms is organized by a structure of community members with predefined roles such as the ‘Teta’ (the highest authority), elected ‘Priostes’ (the organizers), and other volunteers who work together to manage the religious activities, food preparation and dance performances. The related knowledge and skills, including the oral traditions, dance movements, handicraft techniques, cooking techniques, and the use of wildflowers for decoration, are transmitted informally within families and communities, as well as through participation in the festivities. The element thus provides a space for the transmission of religious and social values. A marker of the resilience of practising communities, it also promotes unity and a shared sense of identity.