“I would like to congratulate all of Georgia, every Georgian, on UNESCO’s historic decision, according to which Georgian Wheat Culture: Traditions and Rituals has been included in the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity,” the President of Georgia Mikheil Kavelashvili stated.

An event held in connection with the UNESCO decision was attended by Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, representatives of the executive and legislative branches, and members of the clergy.

According to the President, the historic decision represents international recognition of the invaluable heritage created by Georgia’s ancestors and preserved through generations.

“I would like to congratulate all of Georgia, every Georgian, on UNESCO’s historic decision, according to which Georgian Wheat Culture: Traditions and Rituals has been included in the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. This is another recognition of the great experience that our ancestors created in this land and made an integral part of their everyday life, customs and culture, passing it down from generation to generation and preserving it to this day,” Kavelashvili stated.

He emphasized the symbolic and cultural significance of wheat and bread for Georgians.

“For our people, wheat and bread carry profound cultural and historical meaning. The traditions associated with wheat cultivation and bread baking in Georgia span centuries. It is noteworthy that in our small but culturally rich country, different regions have their own unique types of bread, which together form a unified and distinctive body of knowledge known as Georgian wheat culture,” the President noted.

Kavelashvili added that UNESCO’s decision highlights Georgia’s unique contribution to global cultural heritage.

“I am proud that this decision once again underscores an important fact — Georgians, alongside numerous traditions and historical landmarks, have given the world unique wheat varieties and cultural practices found nowhere else. This recognition confirms that, while honoring our past, we also have strong prospects for the future development of wheat culture and related industries,” he said.

The President concluded by expressing gratitude to all those involved in achieving the UNESCO recognition.

“I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere gratitude to every representative of the agencies and institutions who contributed to this important national achievement,” Mikheil Kavelashvili stated.