#Exhibit of the Month

We find ourselves in the month of April, as we prepare to celebrate Easter-a moveable religious holiday rich in festive rituals and ceremonial activities that place this event at the very heart of Christian spiritual life. The spirit of the Resurrection is beautifully complemented by ten Easter-themed postcards from the heritage of the National Museum of History of Moldova, printed a century ago. These pieces were added to the museum's postcard collection over a decade ago following a successful acquisition; as the fund for Easter-themed illustrations is modest, we are in a constant search for new additions.

These postcards are "extraordinary" in terms of their postal, typographical, and chromatic effects-the primary reason for revisiting this genre of greetings. Unlike "classic" postcards, these are smaller in size (6.5 cm x 11 cm), made of cardboard (with the exception of one piece made of photographic paper in black and white), and feature "vivid" colors. Printed in Romania and Germany, they bear the marks of having been sent and circulated through the post.

The name of the holiday originates from the verb persach, meaning "to pass," a term adopted by the Jews from the Egyptians. It entered the Romanian language through the Byzantine-Latin form Paschae, signifying the "passage through death to life, the victory of life, and liberation from the bondage of sin." Easter is a holiday of tolerance and forgiveness, representing a bridge between the present and the past. The significance of this celebration is conveyed through its symbols, which are also featured on these postcards: Hand-painted eggs, the Easter Bunny and the Lamb, traditional sweet breads (cozonac and pască), biblical scenes related to the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

The Easter table also features pască-a ritual food reminiscent of ancient, bloodless "reconciliation" sacrifices. Its preparation is the exclusive task of women, the givers of life, as the leavened dough is considered "alive."

The most significant component of the Easter holiday, however, is the Light. The Ceremony of the Holy Light is associated with the miracle of the light appearing on Easter Sunday at Christ's Tomb in Jerusalem. The candle, often depicted in these images, carries a powerful message; it is with the Resurrection candle that we return home after the midnight religious service. Furthermore, the Easter Bunny represents the rebirth of nature, so eagerly awaited after a harsh winter.

Unlike Christmas, when the announcement and ritual integration of the community into sacred time was the duty of caroling groups, at Easter, "one does not go from house to house." Instead, the ritual meal is organized within each family, symbolizing a direct communion with God.

Virtual Tour

Exhibitions

“Dictatorship and Democracy in the Age of Extremes. A View on European History of the Twentieth Century”

June 17 – July 17, 2014

The exhibition is organized at the National Museum of History of Moldova by the Embassy of Germany in the Republic of Moldova.

Exhibition “Dictatorship and Democracy in the Age of Extremes. A View on European History of the Twentieth Century”

It is performed by the Institute for Contemporary History in Munich, Deutschlandradio Kultur and the Federal Foundation for the Reappraisal of the SED Dictatorship, Germany.

The 26 photo-documentation panels of the exhibition present a brief review of the European development in the twentieth century between dictatorship and democracy.

The twentieth century was full of events that changed the world. Oscillating between antagonistic manifestations, it became the century in which democracy was widespread, but the invasion of totalitarian regimes (fascist and communist) periodically destroyed democratic gains.

The authors of the exhibition by means of photographs and documents attempted to reconstruct the crucial moments of the twentieth century, which have made major political, economic social and military changes in Europe. The First World War, the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia, the establishment of the Weimar Republic, the establishment of the Stalinist regime in the Soviet Union, the establishment of a fascist regime in Italy, Great Depression, the rise of the National Socialists led by Hitler in Germany, the Second World War, persecution and extermination of Jews, the end of the war and the division of Europe, the Cold War, confrontation between capitalism and communism, the process of liberalization in Western Europe, the bankruptcy of the communist regime, European integration and the creation of the European Union - these are the topics covered in the exhibition.

The exhibition aims to promote the idea of building a united Europe based on historical values and remembering a common past, on the increasing intercultural dialogue and concepts such as tolerance, solidarity, democracy, equality of opportunity and mutual understanding. A united and social Europe is the only chance for a better future of our continent.

#Exhibit of the Month

Easter-Themed Postcards

“Dictatorship and Democracy in the Age of Extremes. A View on European History of the Twentieth Century”

June 17 – July 17, 2014

#Exhibit of the Month