#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

International Collaboration

2016

From March 2 to April 10, 2016 the National Museum of History of Moldova organized an event celebrating an emblematic personality of the Czech Republic - Václav Havel. The temporary exhibition „Portrait of Václav Havel" was brought to Chișinău by the Czech Center from Bucharest.

Through the German Cultural Center AKZENTE from Chișinău, the German composer Adrian Oswalt gave a public conference on „History of hurdy-gurdy" and a performance of mechanic music at the „Museum Night", May 16, 2016.

Based on the collaboration agreement with Herend Porcelánmanufaktúra Zrt. From Hungary, the MNIM hosted from May 13 to July 12, 2016 an exceptional exhibition of Hungarian porcelain entitled "Herend Glow". On the occasion of the exhibition opening, the museum was visited by dr. Attila Simon, General Director of Herend Porcelain Manufacture.

Five curators from the MNIM participated in the "Days of museographers - memory, consciousness, history", which was held in Bucharest, Romania, on June 6-10, 2016. The project was developed by the Institute "Eudoxiu Hurmuzachi" for Romanians de Pretutindeni, in partnership with the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Moldova. The study visit included workshops and lectures by experts from various museums in the Bucharest, meetings with academics and visits to museums.

MNIM has participated at the organization of the exhibition "Romania in the Great War" which was opened at the National Museum of History of Romania on September 15, 2016. In this order, 25 documents and photos about the situation of Bessarabia during World War I were included in the exhibition and catalog.

From September 21 to 24, 2016 was held the 26th Numismatic Symposium, organized in collaboration with the Institute of Archaeology "Vasile Pârvan" from Bucharest. The event brought together researchers numismatists and collectors from Moldova, Romania, France, Japan, Ukraine, Belarus, Slovakia and Poland.

Based on the cooperation agreement between the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Moldova and the Ministry of National Heritage of Poland, the restorer of the National History Museum of Moldova, Daniela Ferroni, conducted a study visit in Poland in the period of October 10 to 15, 2016. The theme of the documentation visit was "Conservation-restoration of movable heritage, historical monuments and cultural heritage digitization."

Between October 3 to 12, 2016 was implemented the second stage of the Moldovan-German project (National Museum of History of Moldova, Chișinău - Frei Universität, Berlin) which started with verification and research of Sabatinovka culture settlements identified in the valleys of Ialpug river and tributaries.

Based on the cooperation agreement, the Polish Centre in Bucharest organized at the MNIM a temporary exhibition with the theme "War in Polish poster. Krzysztof Dydo Collection". The exhibition is on display from November 3 to 30, 2016.

#Exhibit of the Month

Easter-Themed Postcards

2016

#Exhibit of the Month