On the occasion of the Day of Resistance to the Occupation of Crimea and Sevastopol, a meeting was held at the Museum dedicated to the knowledge, practices, and customs that are a living expression of the identity and values of the Crimean Tatar people. While other communities, such as the ancient Greeks, Sarmatians, Goths, and Khazars, have vanished forever, the culture of the Crimean Tatar people remains vibrant and resilient despite numerous threats throughout its history. This reality underscores the importance of vigilantly protecting the cultural heritage of the Crimean Tatar people, especially given the heightened dangers they face in the context of the ongoing russian war.
The event featured two notable guests: Esma Adzhiieva, the chairwoman of the board of the NGO "Alem" and the author of the nomination dossier for the element "Örnek," which has been recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) of Humanity, as well as a bearer of traditions. Joining her was Oleksii Savchenko, a researcher specializing in the culture and history of the Crimean Tatar people. He holds a PhD and is the leading researcher at the Treasury of the National Museum of History of Ukraine.
Oleksii emphasized that the promotion of traditional Crimean Tatar culture was and is extremely important due to the deportations experienced by the people, repressions by the Soviet authorities, forced russification and cultural assimilation, the annexation of Crimea in 2014, the exclusion from the information space and the destruction of Crimean Tatar media, restrictions on the use of the language, and pressure on cultural figures of the mentioned people. He noted that perceiving living folk traditions in the public space and intercultural communication as a specific conditional "cultural catering" is dangerous and extremely wrong.
The practical portion of the museum meeting allowed attendees, invited by the staff of the Institute of History of Ukraine, to gain a more in-depth understanding of the elements of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) of the Crimean Tatars. These elements are included in the UNESCO Representative List and the National Register of the ICH of the Indigenous Peoples of Ukraine. Participants were introduced to the traditional ornament Örnek and Hoşkeldi qahvesi, the tradition of welcoming coffee among the Crimean Tatars. The demonstration included an interactive preparation of coffee in a cezve and explanations of the cultural context and the unique aspects of this practice during times of war, deportation, repatriation, and occupation.
During the event, Esma shared her family stories and presented documented evidence of the coffee tradition across various historical periods. She emphasized its unique significance as a cultural component and a means of communication, especially when the loss of the ethnic environment, language restrictions, and similar challenges threaten its existence and spread. Oleksii Savchenko, as a researcher, provided insightful scientific commentary to complement her narrative.
While exploring the tradition surrounding Örnek ornaments, the attendees discovered that these ceremonial objects, adorned with such patterns, serve as decoration and convey symbolic messages related to procreation, prosperity, well-being, and protection. The event participants also had the opportunity to create their ornamental messages.
The War Museum serves as a permanent platform for collaboration, communication, and fellowship among museums. On this day, we emphasized the importance of supporting the Crimean Tatars, Ukrainians, and other nationalities who have faced repression and persecution under russian occupation. We stand united in defending our rights, freedoms, and the territorial integrity of Ukraine. Crimea is Ukraine!
