Merry Christmas 2011! Part 2.

On December 20, 2011, we were invited to the Ethnographic Museum from Baia Mare for the official varnishing of the traditional Christmas trees from the region of Maramures, which took place at the museum.
Mrs. Malvina Mada told us that in the old times, before the introduction in Transylvania of the Christmas Fir tree by the Germans who settled here approx. in the 17th century, people in Maramures used to decorate their hoimes and make a Christmas tree from different materials they had in the house (cookies, nuts, other food items, tree branches, mistletoe, etc.), which were considered to bring good health and wealth to the family in the new year.
Here are some examples of such Christmas tees

After our hosts and their guest speakers told us about the history and symbolism of these Christmas trees,  all the students present here, from several kindergartens from Baia Mare, and the students from grades 2B, 3E, 4A and B and their teachers, from Scoala "Vasile Alecsandri from Baia Mare, as well as the students and adults from the choir from the village of Oarta, Maramures, sang some very beautiful traditional Christmas carols. The atmosphere was filled with emotion for all those present.