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Christmas bells entered the Romanian cultural space through a long process in which archaic traditions blended with Christian belief and European influences. Long before the holiday of Christmas developed as we know it, metallic sounds played an important ritual role in old communities: they were used to drive away evil spirits, to purify spaces, and to protect people during transitional moments at the turn of the year. These beliefs have been preserved in winter customs such as caroling, the Plugușor, and masked dances, where bells and jingles were indispensable.
With the spread of Christianity, the sound of the bell also acquired a profound religious meaning, becoming an announcer of major feasts and a symbol of the Nativity. Small bells, however, were not originally used as decorations but primarily as functional or ritual objects.
The first decorated Christmas tree in the Romanian lands was the one at the palace of Prince Carol I of Hohenzollern, following his arrival in the Romanian Principalities in 1866. From that moment the tradition took root, and on Christmas Eve princes and princesses invited to the palace would take part in decorating the tree. Among the ornaments used were small metal bells, symbolizing joy, the good news, and divine protection for the home.
In the twentieth century, Christmas bells spread across all Romanian provinces and became a visual emblem of the holiday, appearing in both decorations and carols. Even during periods when religious expression was curtailed, bells remained in people's homes as signs of joy and the continuity of tradition. Today they retain this dual meaning: the echo of ancient beliefs and, at the same time, the announcement of the Birth of Christ - a symbol of hope, light, and the link between past and present.
These tinkling pieces are part of a generous heritage collection at the National Museum of History of Moldova (NMHM), which includes more than 200 cultural items. A substantial contribution to the museum's collection of decorative bells was made by Dorina Raischi, a teacher at School No. 94 in Chișinău, who donated 174 bells, of which around 30 are winter-themed. Made of ceramic, porcelain, glass, and metal, they were brought from different parts of the world and together offer a succinct picture of the global culture of bells. They add a festive note to the home and even to a gift, and it is hard to imagine Christmas without their cheerful tinkling.

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Events Archive

International Museum Day
"Museums for Education and Research"

May 18, 2024

The National Museum of History of Moldova had the honor of hosting one of the most important events in the life of the world museum community - International Museum Day. This year's event, held under the banner "Museums for Education and Research", took place on Saturday, May 18, 2024, between 10:00 and 18:00.

Throughout the day, visitors had the opportunity to participate in a variety of activities and surprises specially prepared for this occasion. The program included:

Within the museum:

- 10:00-18:00 - Free Visit to the museum's permanent and temporary exhibitions.

- 11:00-12:00 - Living Exhibit - a museum project using artificial intelligence to detect and describe exhibits, presented by students from IPLT "Gheorghe Asachi", winners of the "Engineering Excellence" Award at the FIRST LEGO League Challenge Moldova 2024.
Location: nr. 9 (Bronze), floor

- 12:00-13:00 - Tactile Music - an installation generating contemporary music sounds through tactile touch, presented by winners of the "Engineering Excellence" Award at the FIRST LEGO League Challenge Moldova 2024, students from IPLT Da Vinci, Chisinau.
Location: nr. 8 (Medieval), floor

- 13:00-14:00 - Guided Robot - a museum hall model where a guide robot offers both remote and disability-friendly tours, presented by students from IPLT "Gaudeamus" Chisinau, winners of the "Innovation Project" Award at the FIRST LEGO League Challenge Moldova 2024.
Location: nr. 6 (Red), floor

- 15:00-16:00 - Museum in Reflected Reality - holograms, soap bubbles, luminescent algae, programmable LEDs, presented by students from IPLT "Mihai Stratulat" s. Boscana, Criuleni, winners of the "Perseverance" Award at the FIRST LEGO League Challenge Moldova 2024.
Location: Cinemateca "Clio", floor

- 15:30-16:00 - Opening of Temporary Exhibition "Dialogue in Space and Time. Exhibition of Chinese Costume Culture" organized by the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Chisinau.
Location: nr. 1 (Parter), floor

- 16:00-17:00 - Virtual Reality Workshop organized by the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Chisinau:
- Interactive activities: Chinese knot, cutting Chinese paper, calligraphy;
- Demonstrations: guzheng (Chinese musical instrument), Kung Fu (Chinese martial art).

- 17:00-18:00 - Musical Concert supported by the brass band of the "Alexei Stârcea" School of Arts, artistic leader and conductor: Mihail Lisii

In the courtyard of the museum:

13:00-15:00 - "Technological evolution in space and time. Prehistory" - interactive activities and Cucutenian drawings.
13:00-18:00 - "Technological evolution in space and time. Medieval era" - activities supported by the Association of Historical Reconstruction clubs from the Republic of Moldova "Bastion".
13:00-13:30 - Opening of the exhibition "A history of the oldest inhabited city in Romania - Constanța", organized by the Museum of National History and Archeology Constanța.
16:00-17:00 - Workshop organized by the Embassy of the People's Republic of China, including interactive activities and cultural demonstrations.
17:00-18:00 - Music recital performed by the marching band of the "Alexei Stârcea" School of Arts.

International Museum Day, celebrated annually on 18 May, serves as a global platform for promoting the role of museums in cultural exchange and development. This year's edition emphasized the importance of education and research within museums, inviting visitors to rediscover the innovative and traditional role of these institutions.
Thanks to all partners and participants who contributed to the success of this event. We look forward to seeing you at the National Museum of History of Moldova to continue exploring and learning together!

Event partners: Aridon Group, First Lego League Moldova, Constanța National History and Archeology Museum, Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the Republic of Moldova, "Alexei Stârcea" School of Arts, "Bastion" Association of Historical Reconstruction Clubs from the Republic of Moldova.

Media partners: Diez, Locals, TVR Moldova, Călătorii cu Gust, Aquarelle Magazine, Aquarelle FM, TV Moldova1
Thank you and we look forward to seeing you at our next events!

 
 


Independent Moldova
Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic
Bessarabia and MASSR between the Two World Wars
Bessarabia and Moldavian Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic in the Period between the Two World Wars
Revival of National Movement
Time of Reforms and their Consequences
Abolition of Autonomy. Bessarabia – a New Tsarist Colony
Period of Relative Autonomy of Bessarabia within the Russian Empire
Phanariot Regime
Golden Age of the Romanian Culture
Struggle for Maintaining of Independence of Moldova
Formation of Independent Medieval State of Moldova
Era of the
Great Nomad Migrations
Early Middle Ages
Iron Age and Antiquity
Bronze Age
Aeneolithic Age
Neolithic Age
Palaeolithic Age
  
  

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Summer schedule: daily
10am – 6pm.
Winter schedule: daily
10am – 5pm.
 Closed on Mondays.
Entrance fees:  adults - 50 MDL, Pensioners, students - 20 lei, pupils - 10 MDL. Free access: enlisted men (...)

WiFi Free Wi-Fi Zone in the museum: In the courtyard of the National History Museum of Moldova there is Wi-Fi Internet access for visitors.


#Exhibit of the Month
Christmas bells entered the Romanian cultural space through a long process in which archaic traditions blended with Christian belief and European influences. Long before the holiday of Christmas developed as we know it, metallic sounds played an important ritual role in old communities: they were used to drive away evil spirits, to purify spaces, and to protect people during transitional moments at the turn of the year...

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The National Museum of History of Moldova takes place among the most significant museum institutions of the Republic of Moldova, in terms of both its collection and scientific reputation.
©2006-2026 National Museum of History of Moldova
Visit museum 31 August 1989 St., 121 A, MD 2012, Chisinau, Republic of Moldova
Phones:
 Secretariat: +373 (22) 24-43-25
Department of Public Relations and Museum Education: +373 (22) 24-04-26
Fax: +373 (22) 24-43-69
E-mail: office@nationalmuseum.md
Technical Support: info@nationalmuseum.md
 Web site administration and maintenance: Andrei EMILCIUC

 

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The National Museum of History of Moldova takes place among the most significant museum institutions of the Republic of Moldova, in terms of both its collection and scientific reputation.
©2006-2026 National Museum of History of Moldova
Visit museum 31 August 1989 St., 121 A, MD 2012, Chisinau, Republic of Moldova
Phones:
 Secretariat: +373 (22) 24-43-25
Department of Public Relations and Museum Education: +373 (22) 24-04-26
Fax: +373 (22) 24-43-69
E-mail: office@nationalmuseum.md
Technical Support: info@nationalmuseum.md
 Web site administration and maintenance: Andrei EMILCIUC

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The National Museum of History of Moldova takes place among the most significant museum institutions of the Republic of Moldova, in terms of both its collection and scientific reputation.
©2006-2026 National Museum of History of Moldova
Visit museum 31 August 1989 St., 121 A, MD 2012, Chisinau, Republic of Moldova
Phones:
 Secretariat: +373 (22) 24-43-25
Department of Public Relations and Museum Education: +373 (22) 24-04-26
Fax: +373 (22) 24-43-69
E-mail: office@nationalmuseum.md
Technical Support: info@nationalmuseum.md
 Web site administration and maintenance: Andrei EMILCIUC