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.
Anuarul Muzeului Național de Istorie a Moldovei, nr. I
Chișinău, 1992
I. Studii
• Nicolae A. Răilean, Istoria există numai prin adevăr • Nicolae A. Chetraru, Primul arheolog basarabean Ion C. Surucean și primul muzeu de istorie a Moldovei • Grigorie P. Jitaru, Contribuții la istoricul blazonului Basarabilor • Vlad D. Ghimpu, Considerații privind evoluția procesului etnic în Moldova • Mihai Sofronie, Vasile Stroescu, un mare mecenat al românilor transilvăneni • Л.Г. Амшеников, Молдавские поселения на Украине
II. Istorie veche și arheologie
• И.А. Борзияк, А.И. Давид, Т.Ф. Обадэ, Климэуць II – верхне-палеолитическая стоянка с мамонтовой фауной в Приднестровье • О.Г. Левицкий, Е.Н. Савва, Л.Ф. Чобан, Исследование курганного могильника раннего железного века у с. Тринка. • В.Я. Сорокин, Орудия труда и хозяйство племен культуры Прекукутень-Триполъе А на территории Молдовы • Н.В. Гольцева, Два кинжалa-меча эпохи бронзы из собрания Национального музея истории Молдовы • В.П. Хахеу, О гетских памятниках Левобережья Молдовы. • Г.И. Постикэ, Новые данные о средневековом горизонте в Старом Орхее • Natalia N. Mateevici, Colecțiile fondului de arheologie ale Muzeului Național de istorie a Moldovei
III. Istorie
• Mihai P. Onilă, Satele din județele Lăpușna, Orhei și Soroca care au fost închinate mănăstirilor (sec. XV-XVII) • Pavel S. Cocîrla, Unele dale privitoare la administrația ținutului și tîrgului Orhei la sfîrșitul sec. XVI - prima jumătate a sec. XVII • Liuba C. Bîrsan, Pîrcalabii cetăților de pe Nistru în timpul domniei lui Ştefan cel Mare • И.Е. Гончарова, Монеты феодальной Молдовы • В.Б. Букарский, План лагеря Карла XII. Из фондов Национального музея истории Молдовы • Olimpia Palamariu, Monede și medalii din sec. XVII-XIX din colecția Muzeului Hunedoara-Deva • Valentin N. Tomulet, Noi opinii privind dezvoltarea comerțului Basarabiei în prima jumătate a sec. XIX • Ludmila P. Nastase, Spre Nilul Albastru. (Destinul unui basarabean - Petru V. Şciusev). • Măria V. Hasnas, Ziarul Basarabia - cîteva file de arhiva • Elena T. Postică, Contribuții la cercetarea activității administrației românești în Basarabia în primele luni ale Marii Uniri • Virgiliu Teodorescu, Monumentele ridicate în orașul Chișinău în 1918-1940 • О.Ю. Щипакина, Страницы былого • А.А. Кушнир, Оперная певица и педагог Лидия Бабич • А.М. Кракан, Академическая капеллa "Дойна" • Nadejda V. Lavric, Soarta dramatică a orașului basarabean • Д.А. Крупейников, Стали героми на земле Молдовы • И.Ф. Рыжова, Грустная память • Л.А. Репринцева, Депортация 1949 года в Молдавии в коллекциях Музея • Alexei P. Zagaievschi, Satul Cosăuți - file din istorie
IV. Muzeografie și arhivistică
• П.П. Старостенко, Музей Древностей Понта Скифского И.К. Суручана в Кишиневе • Eugenia V. Borodac, Cerințe la descrierea unor categorii de obiecte muzeistice • Gheorghe Rusu, Arhivele Statului din Iași. La 160 de ani de la înființare
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...
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.
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.
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.
31 August 1989 St., 121 A, MD 2012, Chisinau, Republic of Moldova
