Crimean Tatar ornament could be put on UNESCO intangible cultural heritage list

"Important and encouraging news for all who study, practice or are simply interested in the traditional Crimean Tatar ornament, Ornek. Finally, the element of Ukraine’s national cultural heritage - the Crimean Tatar ornament Ornek - was nominated for possible inclusion in the representative list of the intangible cultural heritage of humanity,” Crimean Tatar NGO “Alem” posted on Facebook.

As noted, the corresponding information has already been published on the UNESCO website. The list will be examined in November/December 2021.

Crimean Tatar activists note that the nomination of Ornek ornament was a long-term initiative of their NGO.

“The Crimean Tatar people understand the language of Ornek symbols and use items with ornamental messages on them in ritual actions and non-ritual activities.mDistribution of this element is directly related with the places of residence of Crimean Tatar people on the territory of Ukraine. The overwhelming majority of Ornek artisans, as well as most Crimean Tatars, live in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea. Small numbers of Crimean Tatars also live in Kyiv and Kherson regions, the cities of Kyiv, Lviv, Vinnytsia, Lutsk and Melitopol. There are craftsmen–bearers of the Ornek element among them, too,” reads the nomination form.

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