#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.

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Exhibitions

“The 40th Anniversary of the Solidarity Revolution”

August 2-25, 2021

On the occasion of the 41st anniversary of the founding of the Solidarity Polish trade union, which contributed to the fall of communism in Central and Eastern Europe, Chisinau residents can watch an open-air exhibition on its history, in the city center, until August 25, 2021.

Under the leadership of Solidarity, through peaceful means, the 1980 revolution led to the fall of communism in Poland in the summer of 1989. It also caused an avalanche that affected the entire so-called Eastern Bloc and ended with the fall of the Berlin Wall, and later with the end of Nicolae Ceaușescu's dictatorship in Romania.

The Solidarity Independent Trade Union was officially registered on September 17, 1980, due to a large wave of labor strikes, and gathered at the peak of its activity 10 million Poles. The union gave hope for a dignified, better life in freedom.

The great Solidarity social movement led by Lech Wałęsa helped the people to organize and express their wishes, and the communist authorities in the country were forced to negotiate and conclude agreements with the trade unionists (late August 1980). The slogan "There is no freedom without solidarity" became the message of a peaceful revolution and remained in the minds of Poles for years.

Due to the determination of thousands of people, in 1989 Poland became the first country of the so-called Eastern Bloc, in which, following the discussions at the Round Table, an agreement was reached, which in June 1989 led to the organization of partially free parliamentary elections and the collapse of the communist system. Other countries followed the path of Poland.

The exhibition "The 40th Anniversary of the Solidarity Revolution", prepared by the Polish Institute in Bucharest in the Romanian language version, tells the story of the creation of Solidarity and its impact on the fate of Central and Eastern Europe. The event is organized in partnership with the National Museum of History of Moldova in Chisinau.

The exhibition can be seen on the fence of the National Museum of History of Moldova (31 August 1989 Street, no. 121 A, MD 2012, Chisinau) from 2 to 25 August 2021.

We invite you to the closing of the exhibition, in the presence of Mrs. Natalia Mosor, director of the Polish Institute of Bucharest, on August 25, 2021, at 12.00 at the National Museum of History of Moldova.

#Exhibit of the Month

Easter-Themed Postcards

“The 40th Anniversary of the Solidarity Revolution”

August 2-25, 2021

#Exhibit of the Month