Ukrainian pysanka named a cultural heritage of Ukraine

This article was first published by the Ukrainian World Congress.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has officially recognized the Ukrainian tradition of egg decoration as part of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. 

This decision was made during the 19th session of the UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Paraguay. The session is running through Dec. 7.

Ukraine and Estonia had jointly applied for the pysanka (Ukrainian egg decoration) to be recognized as a cultural heritage, according to the Congress of Ukrainians in Estonia (CUE).

“Back in 2017, the Congress of Ukrainians in Estonia and the Ukrainian Cultural Center  partnered with the Estonian Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine on a long journey that ultimately led to the recognition of pysanka as a spiritual heritage of humanity,” the statement said.

Estonia officially recognized the pysanka as part of its intangible heritage in 2013.