National News

Belarus submits two nomination files to UNESCO

We have nominated the Belarusian art of vytsinanka and the Neglyubka textile tradition for inclusion into the UNESCO list, Gennady Khodor, a consultant at the Department for the Protection and Registration of Historical and Cultural Values at the Historical and Cultural Heritage Department at the Culture Ministry of Belarus, said at a press conference to mark the Day of Cultural Workers on 5 October, BelTA has learned.

"This year we have submitted two more nominations to UNESCO: Belarusian Neglyubka textile tradition in Gomel Oblast and Vytsinanka, the traditional art of paper cutting in Belarus,” Gennady Khodor said. He clarified that the second nomination has already been included in the 2024.

At the end of last year, at its 17th session in Morocco, the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of UNESCO decided to inscribe the Belarusian nomination “Straw weaving in Belarus, art, craft and skills” on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

According to Gennady Khodor, straw weaving is widespread throughout Belarus. This craft is practiced in 200 places of the country. “This is our cultural brand, this is our Belarusian ‘gold',” he said.

Belarusian straw became the fifth national element inscribed on the UNESCO World Intangible Cultural Heritage lists along with Kalyady (Christmas) Tsars in the village of Semezhevo, the Celebration in Honor of the Budslau Icon of Our Lady (Budslau Fest) in Budslau, Myadel District, Minsk Oblast, the Jurauski Karagod spring rite in the village of Pogost, Gomel Oblast, and the Tree Beekeeping Culture of Belarus in Lelchitsy District, Gomel Oblast.

Gennady Khodor revealed the plans to propose the Belarusian bagpipe playing tradition for inclusion in the UNESCO list next year. “Bagpipe playing is not as widely represented in the country as we would like it to be, with about 30 professionals and some 100 amateurs practicing it. Bagpipe is played in Vitebsk Oblast, Brest Oblast, Mogilev Oblast, Minsk Oblast and the city of Minsk,” he said.

Four sites located in Belarus are inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. “In total, Belarus is represented in the international UNESCO lists by nine objects,” Gennady Khodor said.