#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. 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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#Exhibit of the Month

January 2024

Mihai Eminescu: volumes of works from the NMHM collection

On January 15, in tribute to the birthday of the great poet Mihai Eminescu (1850-1889), the Republic of Moldova celebrates the National Day of Culture. In the collection of the National Museum of History of Moldova there are several materials related to the name of the illustrious Romanian poet and prose writer, such as books, paintings, medals, coins, philately pieces and cartophile, etc. On this occasion, we present to the public two volumes signed by Mihai Eminescu, representing the author's oldest editions from our book collection.

The first book entitled "Political and literary writings: original manuscripts and collections from newspapers and magazines" vol. 1: 1870-1877 - XXXV, 451 p. was published in Bucharest in 1905. The cover is original, made of paper. On the forced sheet there is a stamp with the text: "Gheorghe Papaghiuc Library. Iasi". On the verso title page: "Publishing Institute of Graphic Arts "Minerva". On page V-XXXV, introduction signed by Ion Scurtu, dated Bucharest, June 10, 1905". Of the planned edition in 3 volumes, only volume 1 appeared (laudatory articles in the press of the time). On the back cover, the list of books published in the collection of the Library of Romanian Writers, classic authors and modern authors was placed.

The second book is "Complete Works. Poems - Short stories - Novel - Theater - Thoughts - Writings: Literary, Economic, Political and Philosophical - Letters - Critique of pure reason by Kant" with a preface and an introductory study by A. C. Cuza, Iași 1914: edited by Librăria Românească / Ioan V. Voinescu and N. Georgescu - Institute of Graphic Arts N.V. Ștefănescu & Co.: Ștefan cel Mare street, no. 38.

Three illustrations representing Mihai Eminescu at different ages are inserted in the volume: M. Eminescu after a photograph from 1879-1880 (between pages 184-185); M. Eminescu after a photo from the years 1884-1885 (between pages 344-345) and the photo of M. Eminescu from the age of 20, which is missing in our volume.

Alexandru C. Cuza (1857-1947), who signed the preface and the introductory study of the volume, was a professor of political economy at the University of Iași, a contemporary of Mihai Eminescu whom he knew. Because of the political activity of A.C. Cuza, one of the founders of the far-right movement in Romania, known for its extremism and anti-semitism, the 1914 edition was banned in 1948. Many copies of this edition were destroyed in the early years of the communist regime.

#Exhibit of the Month

Decorative Bells

January 2024

Mihai Eminescu: volumes of works from the NMHM collection

#Exhibit of the Month