Ukrainian Easter Egg Becomes Cultural Heritage of Humanity: UNESCO Recognition

At the recent 19th session of the UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee for the Intangible Cultural Heritage, the Ukrainian Easter Egg received the official status of Cultural Heritage of Humanity. This landmark event was an important step in the preservation and popularization of Ukrainian traditions at the international level, as reported by the Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communications of Ukraine.

The Minister of Culture and Strategic Communications of Ukraine, Mykola Tochytsky, noted that this success is a symbol of the unity and invincibility of the Ukrainian people. “Even in the most difficult times, we continue to demonstrate our strength and devotion to cultural traditions. The inclusion of Ukrainian Easter Egg in the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage is our common victory,” the Minister emphasized.

Preparations for the nomination began back in 2017, when representatives of the Ukrainian community that preserves the traditions of Easter egg making held a meeting in Estonia. This cooperation became the basis for the formation of documents that reflect the richness and uniqueness of the Ukrainian art of decorating Easter eggs.

The nomination was based on three key elements. The first of them is “Ukrainian Easter Egg: Tradition and Art”, which covers the cultural heritage of all regions of Ukraine. The second is “The Tradition of Hutsul Easter Egg”, which reflects the characteristic features of the art of the Carpathian region. Both of these elements are included in the National List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Ukraine.

The third element that complemented the nomination is “Ukrainian Easter Egg: Tradition and Art of Decorating Easter Eggs”, which is included in the National List of Elements of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Estonia. This fact testifies to the significant contribution of the Ukrainian diaspora to the preservation of cultural identity.

The recognition of the Ukrainian Easter Egg by UNESCO is another proof of its uniqueness and importance for the world cultural community. This achievement opens up new opportunities for the promotion of traditional Ukrainian art on the global stage, as well as strengthens efforts to pass it on to future generations.