Government looking to add potato pancakes to UNESCO heritage list

March 4, Pozirk. Belarus plans to ask UNESCO to include Belarusian grated potato recipes – pancakes and potato cakes – in its List of Intangible Cultural Heritage.  

The cooking traditions were included in the State List of Historical and Cultural Valuables in 2022, said the Council of Ministers.

The Ministry of Culture is expected to send a formal request before the end of March.

The UNESCO list currently includes seven Belarusian traditions:

• Vytsinanka (traditional art of paper cutting) – a folk paper-cutting art with intricate designs and patterns
• Straw weaving (art, craft and skills) – traditional methods of weaving straw into decorative and practical objects
• Tree beekeeping culture– traditional knowledge and practices of forest beekeeping
• Celebration in honor of the Budslaŭ icon of Our Lady (Budslaŭ fest) – a religious and cultural festival held in Budslaŭ
• Negliubka textile tradition of Vietka district, Homiel region – a rich local weaving and embroidery craft with symbolic designs
• Spring rite of Juraŭski Karahod – a seasonal ritual performed in the Pahost village
• Rite of the Kalady Tsars (Christmas Tsars) – a unique festive ritual from the Siemežava village