On January 11th, Heritage Treasures Day is observed, and it’s a day for people to share their heritage with others. In this context, “heritage” refers to the traditions and culture passed down in a person’s family that they can share with everyone else.

It’s a way for all of us to preserve the cultures that created us and the treasures each culture has produced, so that we can all learn and grow from one another. Of course, people sharing their heritage is only one part of this holiday worth mentioning.

This day is also for preserving monuments and ensuring that the wildlife we enjoy today is there for future generations.

The History of Heritage Treasures Day

This holiday was created on January 11, 1994, by The Heritage Lottery Fund. This organization has donated over 8 billion GBP (about $11 billion USD) to tens of thousands of different causes.

They currently distribute over £300 million a year to create lasting change for people and places all across the United Kingdom. Their purpose is to involve a wider range of people in protecting heritage and working towards environmental sustainability.

Some Cool Facts About World Heritage Sites

Since a major component of this holiday is to protect the heritage sites located all over the world, we thought we’d take a few moments to list some facts that we know about these sites.

We think the following list will prove educational and informative to just about everyone, and we hope that it inspires people to get involved in protecting the heritage sites that exist in their country.

• There are almost 1,100 world heritage sites. These include 845 culturally significant ones, 209 natural ones, and 38 mixed heritage sites.
• Italy has the most heritage sites in the world, with 54.
• The most visited world heritage site is Paris, Banks of the Seine.
• Currently, there are 54 world heritage sites listed as being in danger. Of these, 38 are cultural and 16 are natural.
• The area with the largest amount of land devoted to world heritage protection is the U.S., with over 465,135+ square kilometers protected.
• The smallest heritage site in the world is the Holy Trinity Column in Olomouc, Czech Republic.

Observing Heritage Treasures Day

Everyone is encouraged to connect with their heritage in a way that feels genuine to them. People are also encouraged to share their heritage with others. The final aspect of this holiday is for people to take action to preserve their famous landmarks, not just in the United Kingdom but all across the world. As part of this holiday celebration, people should also take the time to spread the word about it using the hashtag #HeritageTreasuresDay online.