The issues of the evaluation and protection of intangible cultural heritage as exemplified by the Kashubian tradition of the obeisance of feretra

The article describes the tradition of the obeisance of feretra as a manifestation of intangible cultural heritage, as well as the ways of perceiving, evaluating and protecting this tradition. The year 2013 was significant in this respect, since thanks to an amateur but intentionally edited video published on the Internet, the obeisance of feretra was shown to a wider audience and received various, sometimes radically different opinions. Simultaneously, a considerable increase in the interest in the obeisance was observed among researchers, experts and bearers of this tradition as they tried to learn more about it and explain its meaning. In the article, the author distinguishes five types of the evaluation of the obeisance of feretra and analyses their determinants. Relating primarily to the 2003 UNESCO Convention, the author also considers actions that could help to protect the tradition of the obeisance of feretra.