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.
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. II [XVII], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
Questions on fate of Tatar heritage on the North Moldova territory have been reviewed in many articles and some how solved. But for South Moldova territory we could not affirm the same. The matter is that in second part of XIVc. in Moldova historiography, traditionally these two territories (north and south) were considered as one whole. This could be considered correct for Moldova since the Alexander the Kind period, but erroneously for second part of XIV century. This article propose to look at some historical personalities, which still does not have simple place no in the list of Moldova Dominus neither in list of Dominus suite.
We should mark firstly Tatar brothers Hajibei and Kutlubuga, and Dmitrii which are mentioned in Russian Chronicles and Hungarian King charter as – «Demetrius prinseps tartarorum”, who rule in South Moldova since 1365 till 1369 years. Obviously in 1369 south Moldova territory were crossed from Tatar brothers to Lithuanian brothers Kariatovici. This were approved by the Saray, who according to Sehr ali Djedida coins were in conflict with tatars from Moldova territory. In 1369 – 1991 period Lithuanian prince Iurii Koriatovici ruled at this territory, mentioned in Russian Chronicles and others documents of XV XVI cc. as dux, than Konstantin Kariatovici, who is mentioned in Bistritschii monastery funeral book in 1408 as dux, and Massaria from Chifa document 1386 year under name Konsatantin as dominus.
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
