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.
Salt trade in Bessarabia in the context of the inclusion of the province in the economic system of the Russian Empire (1812-1850)
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. V [XX], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
The study is focused on the issue of trade with salt in Bessarabia, from the annexation of the province, by the Peace of Bucharest of May 16/28, 1812, and until the saline lakes in southern Bessarabia flooding in 1850. Broadly speaking it is a well studied problem in the historiography of the MSSR and Republic of Moldova. Despite this, we found it necessary to come up with new archival documentary data, to make some additions on less developed issues.
The scientific novelty of the study is given by the approach to the examination of the issue. This particularly approach has several important research goals. First, note that the salt trade in the Russian Empire in the set out period represented a state monopoly. Russian state typically granted the right of extraction and marketing of salt to different persons. Secondly, the issue of salt trade in Bessarabia is closely linked to the problem of protectionist policy of the Russian Empire towards the newly annexed province. Russian government’s tendency to protect producers of salt form the Crimea, by the ban imposed on export of salt from Bessarabia, did not suite the dealers of salt extraction from the province. The antagonism of the situation is relevant in understanding the issues related to the inclusion of Bessarabia into the economical system of the Russian Empire.
Another goal of our approach to the research of trade salt in Bessarabia is related to suppression of customs and sanitary cordon on Dniester River by the Regulation of 26 September 1830. In return, the Russian government established in the province a Department of salines, in order to assert its control over the export of salt and thus continued its policy of disadvantaging producers of salt in Bessarabia for the benefit of those from Crimea. This was despite the fact that the province was de jure included in socio-political and economic system of the Russian Empire after the withdrawn of last levers of autonomy by the Establishment of administration of 1828.
Andrei Emilciuc
The Medal “For Works on Excellent Performance of General Mobilization in 1914” from the collections of the National Museum of History of Moldova
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. IX [XXIV], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie Chișinău, 2015
Andrei Emilciuc
The legal status of merchants without residence in the cities of Bessarabia and in Odessa (1812-1861)
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. III [XVIII], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
Andrei Emilciuc
Western European dictionaries and encyclopedias from the collections of the National Museum of History of Moldova
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. VIII [XXIII], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
Andrei Emilciuc
Export of livestock from Bessarabia to the Habsburg Empire (1812-1861)
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. XV [XXX], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
Andrei Emilciuc
The legal framework of the circulation of Western European books in the Russian Empire (1721-1917)
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. VI [XXI], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
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 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.
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31 August 1989 St., 121 A, MD 2012, Chisinau, Republic of Moldova
