<![CDATA[Legal protection of intangible cultural heritage in Indonesia is established through Law No. 5 of 2017 on the Advancement of Culture. However, a national legal framework does not necessarily ensure effective implementation at the local level, particularly where community-based cultural traditions depend on local regulatory and institutional mechanisms. This study examines the implementation of the cultural protection mandate under Law No. 5 of 2017 in relation to the Meron Tradition in Sukolilo Village, Pati Regency, with particular attention to the gap between national legal norms and local implementation. This study employs an empirical juridical approach. Primary data were obtained through semi-structured interviews with purposively selected informants, while secondary data were collected through legal and literature review and documentation. The data were analysed qualitatively using the interactive model of Miles, Huberman, and Saldaña. The findings show that the Meron Tradition has received formal recognition as Indonesia’s Intangible Cultural Heritage and continues to be practised through community participation and local government support. Nevertheless, formal recognition and continued cultural practice have not yet been fully translated into comprehensive local protection mechanisms. The main gaps concern the availability of specific local regulatory arrangements, institutional coordination, sustainable resources, systematic documentation, and mechanisms for intergenerational transmission. The study argues that effective protection of intangible cultural heritage requires more than formal recognition; it requires translating national cultural law into locally appropriate and sustainable legal and institutional mechanisms.]]>
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