Craftspeople from the Republic of Moldova on December 22 will stage in Chisinau a workshop to show how to make traditional Christmas tree decorations. Any person who wants to learn how to make a Christmas tree ornament can do it free of charge at the National Museum of Ethnography and Natural History starting at 1pm.
Valentina Onofreescu, head of the Museum’s exhibitions and cultural projects division, has told IPN that the masterclass is intended for children, but parents and grandparents who want to learn a skill are also welcome. Besides craftswomen Eugenia Moldovanu from Bălți and Natalia Cangea from Criuleni, the workshop will involve students of the Theoretical Lyceum of Săseni village of Călărași district, together with their technological education teacher Larisa Cojocaru.
“The winter feast, such as Saint Nicolas, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, New Year and Saint Basil, are full of light, joy and activities to decorate the house and the Christmas tree, to prepare traditional dishes and cakes, to meet with relatives and friends, to exchange good wishes by carols and other songs,” said Valentina Onofreescu, noting the rural children in the past didn’t have Christmas decorations and the quinces, apples and walnuts were the only joys of children.
The children yet were eager to have toys, such as dolls, angles, stars and baubles, and these were made from raw materials found in the home, like vegetal fibers, clay, wool, paper and wood. Similar items will be displayed at an exhibition that will be mounted at the National Museum of Ethnography and Natural History after the masterclass. The protagonists of the exhibition Eugenia Moldovanu and Natalia Cangea brought toys made from vegetal fibers, Andrei Sclifos, Ruslan and Lilian Scutelnic will exhibit clay toys, while Ion Aștefănoaie will display a collection of metal fir trees and toys.
According to Valentina Onofreescu, the tradition of decorating the Christmas tree dates from the 16th century and comes from the Germanic people who adorned pines and firs with fruit, biscuits, candles and colored paper. In time, the tradition was borrowed by the Orthodox people. In Romania, the Christmas tree was first decorated at the Palace of King Carol I of Hohenzollern in 1866. Later, the Christmas tree started to be adorned with glass baubles, chocolate candies and lights.
They say the decoration of the fir tree is associated with youth without old age and life without death. The fir is considered the tree of life as it is always green, while green is the color of youth, hope, welfare. The lights on the tree represent the shining stars as a symbol of eternal life, while the needle leaves pointed at the sky symbolize the human thoughts aimed at God. The triangular form of the fir symbolizes Saint Trinity, while the adornments signify welfare and joy, stated Valentina Onofreescu.
The Christmas adornments exhibition can be visited until January 31, 2022.
