The Ukrainian pysanka has been recognized as a cultural heritage of humanity

This is reported by Ukrinform with reference to the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy.

"Today at the 19th session of the UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, which is taking place in the capital of Paraguay, Asunción, the first international element from Ukraine, together with Estonia, ’Pysanka: Ukrainian Tradition and Art of Egg Decoration,’ has been included in the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity," the announcement states.

As noted by the Minister of Culture and Information Policy, Mykola Tochytskyi, this is our joint success that demonstrates the strength of our unity.

"At the same time, the aggressor is destroying our culture, monuments, theaters, libraries, museums. Our artists, bearers of the living heritage, are dying in the fight for the homeland. Their loss undermines the very heart of our identity. After all, without people, the living heritage does not exist. Yet we prove that even in the darkest times, we remain unbreakable. The inclusion of the Ukrainian pysanka in the UNESCO Representative List is proof of that," said Mykola Tochytskyi in a video message.

The work on the nomination began back in 2017 after meeting with the Ukrainian community of bearers in Estonia. It is based on three elements. Two of them are included in the National Registry of Elements of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Ukraine—’Ukrainian Pysanka: Tradition and Art,’ which unites communities from all regions of Ukraine, and ’Tradition of Hutsul Pysanka.’ Another element—’Ukrainian Pysanka, Tradition, and Art of Easter Egg Decoration,’ is included in the National List of Elements of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Estonia.

The Ministry of Culture reminds that, to date, there are 611 elements in the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, corresponding to 5 regions and 140 state parties to the Convention. From Ukraine, ’Petrykivka decorative painting as a phenomenon of Ukrainian ornamental folk art’ was included in 2013, ’Tradition of Kosiv painted ceramics’ in 2019, and ’Ornek—Crimean Tatar Ornament and Knowledge About it’ in 2021.