At the 20th session of the UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee for Protection of Intangible Cultural Heritage, held in New Delhi, India, “Georgian Wheat Culture: Traditions and Rituals” was included in the list of representatives of the intangible cultural heritage of mankind.
The member countries of the committee unanimously supported Georgia’s nomination, confirming full approval for adding the element to UNESCO’s representative list.
The Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia shared the glimpses of the event on its official Facebook Page on December 10, 2025, Wednesday. The Ministry also shared a small note about the event along with its glimpses.
During the session, on December 11, an official ceremony will be held, where the Georgian delegation will be given a certificate signed by the Director General of UNESCO. The certificate confirms that “Georgian wheat culture, traditions and rituals” are part of the intangible cultural heritage of mankind.
According to UNESCO, Georgian wheat culture includes the full cycle that Georgians have preserved for centuries: preparing the soil by sowing, harvesting with snak, and peeling off the seeds by kevri.
All of this goes beyond just agricultural activities and represents an important part of Georgian existence, social relations, and generations of experience.
Its inseparable element is also the tradition of baking bread – the variety of ancient and ritual breads made in a tone, oven, kera, and kets, which are considered as a symbol of wealth, unity, and purity in Georgian culture.
Continuous traditions from sowing to bread baking create an ancient, living heritage that UNESCO gives special importance to protect and pass on.
According to UNESCO’s decision, “Georgian wheat culture: traditions and rituals” becomes the fifth Georgian culture, which is listed as the representative of intangible cultural heritage – after “Georgian polyphonics”, “Traditional method of making wine”, “Three types of Georgian alphabet living culture”, and “Georgian wrestling”.
