Museum Riga Art Nouveau Centre in cooperation with the Embassy of Hungary to Latvia invites you to visit exhibition “Hungarian Christmas” featuring Christmas decorations, toys and Hungarian postcard reproductions from the beginning of the 20th century. The festive table will be laid with the historic tableware from the Hungarian porcelain factory “Herend”. The Christmas tree at the museum will be decorated according to the traditions of the early 20th century. The visitors will have an opportunity to get an insight into the preparations for Christmas in the Hungary of the first half of the 20th century through short films and creative workshops for children.
The most important Christmas symbol is a Christmas tree. In Hungary the tradition of decorating a Christmas tree traces back to 1820s. First only in aristocratic circles and later wealthy inhabitants adopted this custom as well. Trees were decorated with apples, nuts, candies and colourful ornaments.
The visitors of the exhibition will see the ancient Christmas tree decorations from the the collection of the Trade and Hospitality Museum of Hungary, children’s toys from Marianna Karlocai’s collection, postcard reproductions from Zempleni Museum and the festive table settings with the historic tableware from the Hungarian porcelain factory “Herend”. Besides, the exhibition will feature short films about Christmas and preparation for the season in the early 20th century Hungary.
The exhibition will also acquaint with Mikulás (St. Nicholas, Hungarian Santa Claus) and Christmas traditions of the period. These traditions are also observed in the modern Hungarian culture. Hungarian children are given gifts by Mikulás on the night from the 5th December to 6th December Mikulás gives small presents to children by leaving them in neatly cleaned boots on a window sill. However, on 24th December, Christmas Eve, gifts under a nicely decorated Christmas tree are left by the Baby Jesus (Jēzuška in Hungarian). They are opened within the family in the same evening.
On 10, 17 and 18 December and 7 January at 12.00 and 14.00 the creative workshops for children will take place at the museum where children will make the traditional Fringe edging wrappers for sweets as well as Christmas tree decorations following eary 20th century templates. Families are welcome to the museum! Please inform us about your participation in advance by calling +371 67181061 or writing to dace.balina@riga.lv.
The exhibition has been arranged in co-operation ith the Emassy of Hungary to Latvia, Trade and Hospitality Museum of Hungary, Zempleni Museum and ancient toy collectioner Marianna Karlocai. Exhibition curator: Julianna Kuliča.