Ukraine asking UNESCO to include embroidery shirt in cultural heritage of humanity

Ukraine is asking the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to include Ukrainian embroidery shirt in the cultural heritage of humanity.

Vice Prime Minister for Humanitarian Policy - Minister of Culture Tetiana Berezhna announced this on Facebook, Ukrainian News Agency reports.

"Ukraine has taken a historic step to preserve and internationally recognize our culture. We have submitted Ukrainian embroidery shirt to the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity," she said.

Berezhna noted that embroidered shirts are one of the strongest symbols of Ukrainian identity.

According to her, embroidery shirts unites generations, regions and millions of Ukrainians around the world, in each ornament - a century of Ukrainian history, traditions and cultural continuity.

The Minister reported that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine and the Permanent Mission of Ukraine to UNESCO have submitted the relevant dossier for consideration by the UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage to include the element in the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

As Ukrainian News Agency earlier reported, every year on the third Thursday of May, Ukrainians celebrate Vyshyvanka Day [Embroidery Shirt Day].

In 2026, the holiday is celebrated on May 21 and is an anniversary - it turns 20 years old.

In 2022, Ukrainian borscht was recognized as an intangible cultural heritage by UNESCO.