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.
Die absolute Datierung der Katakombengrabkultur im Nördlichen Schwarzmeerraum
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. III [XVIII], nr. 1, Arheologie. Istorie Antică
In den letzten zwei Jahrzehnten sind zahlreiche 14C-Datierungen für Komplexe der Katakombengrabkultur durchgeführt worden. Die mehr als 127 vorliegenden Daten müssten eigentlich ausreichen, um sowohl die Kultur selbst als auch ihre einzelnen Phasen als auch zumindest einige der Regionalgruppen relativ sicher absolut zu datieren. Doch statt eine Klärung zu bringen, ist eher weitere Verwirrung entstanden. Die Gründe hierfür sind vielfältig, so wurden oft Datierungen ohne archäologischen Kontext publiziert, meist wurden von den Laboren nur die Jahreszahlen in BP und BC ohne weitere Information angegeben usw. Im ersten Teil des Beitrags wird auf die häufigen Missstände beim Umgang mit 14C-Datierungen eingegangen. Danach wird trotz oft unzureichender Vorlage eine absolute Eingrenzung der frühen Katakombengrabkultur im Nördlichen Schwarzmeergebiet versucht, die derzeit mit Vorbehalt von 2800 bis 2500 v.Chr. datiert werden kann. Auf sie folgen im unteren Dneprgebiet Komplexe der Inguler Kultur, die ebenso vorsichtig in die Zeit 2500-2000 v.Chr. zu stellen ist. Als Letztes wird der vorsichtige Umgang mit 14C-Datierungen angemahnt, die vollständige Publikation der naturwissenschaftlichen und archäologischen Angaben sowie die Datierung mehrerer Grabkomplexe aus einem Kurgan, der am besten eine noch klar erkennbare Abfolge chronologisch unterschiedlicher Gräber enthält.
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
