How Romanians have celebrated Christmas, throughout the generations

Art Safari Launches New Exhibition, "The Most Beautiful Traditions"

Bucharest, ... November 2024

• From November 28, the exhibition "The most beautiful traditions", curated by Cristian Vechiu, opens at Art Safari, which explores the wealth of customs and spiritual values ​​passed down through the generations in the Romanian space.
• The event focuses on the beauty of the way Romanians celebrate the winter holidays and offers visitors a foray into the traditions that enrich Romanian cultural heritage, revealing the deep meaning of Christmas in the lives of rural and urban communities in Romania.
• Works signed by big names, such as Andy Warhol, Henri Matisse, Marius Bunescu, Ion Mirea Viorel Mărginean and many others will be able to be admired between Thursday and Sunday, until December 15. The opening will take place on November 28, at 18:00, at Art Safari, on Lipscani 18-20.
• The exhibition is carried out in partnership with the National Heritage Institute, the Archdiocese of Bucharest, the State Secretariat for Cults, the National Museum of the "Dimitrie Gusti" Village, the National Museum of the Romanian Peasant.

The Christmas traditions manifested in the Romanian space focus on the preparation of households for the spiritual and material blessing brought by the Birth of the Savior, according to Christian tradition. The carols, the traditional preparation of cakes and other customs specific to this period, but also the rich religious art that reflects the Christian tradition emphasize the material and immaterial heritage of the Romanian space, a heritage that deserves to be revalued and understood in a contemporary context.

"The public will thus be able to better understand both the symbolism of Orthodox iconography from the perspective of the scenes associated with the birth of Christ, as well as the relevance of Romanian carols that capture Orthodox sacredness in a popular way. In addition to the texts and melodiousness of carols, symbolic objects, such as traditional folk costumes or the instruments used by carolers, also contribute to creating a festive atmosphere. The exhibition aims, therefore, to instill in the public the emotions specific to the Christmas holiday, a period characterized by hope, joy and love". declares the curator of the exhibition, Cristian Vechiu.

 A special section in the exhibition is dedicated to the winter landscapes that enrich Romanian art. Viorel Mărginean, Marius Bunescu, Dimitrie Gavrilean, Gheorghe Vrăneanţu or Ion Mirea are some of the names selected. We travel, through their touches, in the time of old noises, quiet winters and stories at the mouth of the stove.

The public is also invited to discover valuable objects and costumes from the heritage of the "Dimitrie Gusti" National Village Museum, representative of the winter and holiday wear of Romanians from various regions of the country.

"Consumerism prevails in almost all social categories in the urban environment, associated with religious holidays, turning them into carnival, socializing and entertainment. Unfortunately, even in the countryside we have signs that customs are being diluted and are being replaced by "urban practices". Of course, from an economic point of view, this excessive consumption is beneficial, but let's be careful what price we pay in the long term. This event is a counterweight, it is substance versus superficiality, it is experience versus second.

It has never been more necessary than now, to explain what is evident, to make an effort to continue what has been passed down from generation to generation, unaltered, undiluted and certainly not recontextualized according to fashion", declares Oana Zaharia, interim manager of the National Heritage Institute.

 Also on the day of the opening, from 3 to 5 p.m., at Art Safari, the scientific debate "Christmas traditions in the past and in the present. An interdisciplinary perspective." The lectures will be given by Conf. Dr. Paulina Popoiu, general director of the "Dimitrie Gusti" National Village Museum, Fr. Ștefan Zara, cultural adviser - Archdiocese of Bucharest, Dr. Cristian Vechiu, doctor in Theology and Religious Studies of the Faculty of Roman Catholic Theology – University of Bucharest, Corina Mihăiescu, scientific researcher I, intangible heritage expert. The discussion will be moderated by Maria Chiriță.

 About Art Safari

Safari Art,upgraded by George, is supported by Lidl, L'Orit isal Elseve, Glo, Porsche, Kinder, Promenada Mall, Catena, Schweppes, Dove, Brâncoveanu, Regina Maria – Health Network, Peroni, Voxility, Rosé Verité, Yamaha, Profiart – is specialized in making exhibition pavilions. The annual organizer of the Bucharest Art Pavilion - the largest conglomerate of art exhibitions in Romania - now in its 15th edition, carries out, in partnership with Romanian and international art museums and private collectors, extensive retrospective exhibitions that aim to recover heritage values. With a strong educational side, its mission is to bring art closer to the public and educate new generations by organizing art workshops for children, guided tours and contemporary art exhibitions in unconventional spaces, such as Henri Coandă Airport or the Bucharest metro . Art Safari is a strategic national cultural project and is carried out in partnership with the Bucharest City Museum. In the 14 editions so far, it has recorded approx. 570,000 visitors. More details: artsafari.ro.

Press contact:Cristina Lica, Communication Director, 0740.051.749, cristina.lica@clsmedia.ro