Ukrainian pysanka is recognized as a cultural heritage of mankind
4 December 2024 08:26
At the 19th session of the UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee in Asunción, the capital of Paraguay, the Ukrainian Easter egg was recognized internationally. The element “Pysanka: Ukrainian tradition and art of egg decoration“, submitted jointly by Ukraine and Estonia, was included in the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
“New entry to the Intangible Heritage List: Pysanka, Ukrainian tradition and the art of decorating eggs,”
– uNESCO reported in X.
A joint achievement of the two countries
The idea for the nomination came about in 2017 when Ukrainian tradition holders met with the Estonian community. As a result, they managed to join forces and show the world that the art of decorating Easter eggs is more than just folk art. Ukrainian craftsmen from the two countries have preserved traditions that have been passed down from generation to generation, preserving the patterns, symbols, and meanings embedded in each painted egg.
This recognition was an important step in preserving and popularizing the culture of Easter eggs in the world, as well as a reminder that our heritage is alive as long as people support it.
“This is our common success, which shows the strength of our unity. At the same time, the aggressor is destroying our culture, monuments, theaters, libraries, and museums. Our artists, the bearers of our living heritage, are dying in the fight for our homeland. Their loss undermines the very heart of our identity. We prove that even in the darkest times we remain unbreakable,”
– emphasized Mykola Tochytskyi, Minister of Culture and Strategic Communications of Ukraine.
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The path to recognition
Work on the nomination began in 2017 after a meeting with the Ukrainian community in Estonia. The international nomination is based on three elements. Two of them have already been included in the National List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Ukraine: “Ukrainian Pysanka: Tradition and Art” and “Tradition of Hutsul Pysanka”. The third element – “Ukrainian Pysanka, Tradition and Art of Decorating Easter Eggs” – is part of the cultural heritage of Estonia.
The importance of Easter eggs for world culture
Ukrainian pysanka is a symbol of national identity, and its recognition by UNESCO emphasizes that Ukrainian culture is an integral part of the world’s cultural diversity. The unique designs of pysankas convey personal wishes and stories, and each symbol on the egg has its own meaning, rooted in the pre-Christian beliefs and worldview of Ukrainian ancestors.
The exchange and giving of Easter eggs remains an important tradition that unites Ukrainians around the world, regardless of their religious or secular context.
Ukrainian achievements on the Representative List
The UNESCO list currently includes 611 items from 140 countries. Ukraine already has several of its achievements on this list:
- 2013 – “Petrykivka Decorative Painting as a Phenomenon of Ukrainian Ornamental Folk Art”;
- 2019 – “The Tradition of Kosiv Painted Ceramics”;
- 2021 – “Ornek – Crimean Tatar ornament and knowledge about it”.
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