Belarusian masters of straw weaving to be inscribed into UNESCO List of Intangible Cultural Heritage

Ancient Belarusian hand-made art may become a property of global significance. Our art of straw weaving is one step away from being inscribed in the UNESCO List of Intangible Cultural Heritage. The decision will be known at the 17th session of the Intergovernmental Committee, which will be held next week in Morocco. About 60 masters continue the handicraft art of their ancestors in modern Belarus. And dozens more develop the ancient weaving tradition in our time, both individually and at folk art centers. The straw weaving in Belarus is a living tradition. One can learn this art even at institutions of higher education.

Maria Netsvetayeva, Head of the Department of the Ministry of Culture of Belarus:

"Our uniqueness is that we, Belarusians, have preserved the skill and managed to transform this skill and adopted the   straw our objects to our homes. Those items that are created, they are in the house, used practically not only for decoration - that is our regional peculiarity." 

 The Straw Weaving of Belarus may become our fifth national item in the list of the world's intangible cultural heritage. The protection of the world community are already extended to Christmas ritual "Kalyady Tsars", the celebration in honor of the Our Lady of Budslav icon, the spring ritual "Yuriyev Round Dance" and the culture of forest weaving in Belarus.