Christmas has a smell, a flavour, a sound and a light. All of our senses are particularly stimulated at this time of year. The special exhibition ‘Christmas with all the senses’ from Friday, 29 November 2024 at the Museum of European Cultures (MEK) gets to the bottom of this phenomenon and presents many suitable objects from its extensive collection.
Image above: Weihnachten ist ein sinnliches Fest – es duftet, klingt gut oder sieht besonders aus – wie diese Weihnachtsgurke / Weihnachtsbaumschmuck Gurke, 2024, Deutschland © Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Museum Europäischer Kulturen / Christian Krug
Christmas has many meanings: time together with friends and family, the birthday of Jesus Christ, a time to pause, reflect and enjoy. Christmas is also a festival of the senses and surprises. The mixture of lights, smells and sounds creates the special mix that enchants. And all these experiences of Christmas are conveyed to the senses – whether through the scent of incense and the organ playing in the church, the taste of home-baked Christmas biscuits or singing together under the Christmas tree.
Gestalten, gemeinsam singen und Tauschbörse für nervige Weihnachtsgeschenke © Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Museum Europäischer Kulturen / Christian Krug
But the Christmas season is not just about sensory experiences, surprises are also a must: Advent calendars, filled socks and shoes or the wrapped Christmas presents under the Christmas tree. They create excitement for a whole month during the Advent season. That’s why the MEK is also unwrapping some surprising things from its large Christmas collection for visitors. The objects come from various European countries and Latin America: brightly coloured nativity figures with irritatingly long necks by the artist couple Mendívil from Peru, an imposing tree of life from Mexico, the colourful hustle and bustle in a ‘nativity scene tavern’ from Naples in Italy, the play with shadows in the movable Christmas candlestick from Germany. Or the frightening mask of a wild animal – what does it have to do with Christmas? Of course, Advent calendars with their 24 little doors full of surprises are also a must. ‘Christmas with all the senses’ is an exhibition with surprises that visitors can experience for themselves.
WHEN?
Exhibition dates: Friday, 29 November 2024 – Wednesday, 05 February 2025
WHERE?
Museum Europäischer Kulturen
Arnimallee 25
14195 Berlin
