Special exhibition from 30 November 2024 to 5 January 2025

At the Silesian Museum, festive decorations are brought out at Christmas time - as they are for most families - and lovingly displayed. Nativity scenes, reverse glass pictures, light sceptres, artistically designed porcelain and elaborate greeting cards are among the special exhibits. During the Advent and Christmas season, visitors can marvel at all these extraordinary objects, which tell exciting stories about their creation and significance.

Some of the exhibits show how much imagination and craftsmanship went into making them. For example, there is a nativity scene as a diorama in a wooden box, while other three-dimensional nativity scenes are made of paper.

Other nativity scenes fascinate with their variety of figures. The classic depiction of the Holy Family, the Three Kings and the shepherds is complemented by scenes of everyday life in Silesia. Here you will find farmers, craftsmen, musicians, miners and many different animals. A particular highlight of the exhibition is a 2.60 metre wide nativity scene with over 130 figures. These were carved from spruce wood and painted with clay paint around 100 years ago in Grulich/Králíky in northern Bohemia.

A collection of reverse glass paintings from Kaiserwalde/Lasówka in the Orlické Mountains can also be seen in the exhibition, showing motifs from the Christmas story and saints from the Advent season. These valuable pieces come from the collection of Heidi and Fritz Helle. The light sceptres should be of particular interest. They have a long tradition in Silesia. Today, you usually only see replicas, but the museum is displaying an original Christmas sceptre from the 1920s/30s. It was once used in the Protestant prayer house church in Langhelwigsdorf/Pogwizdów in the district of Jauer/Jawor during Christmas services. It was rediscovered in the church attic in 1979.

After all, Christmas also includes presents and greetings cards. The display includes Silesian gift porcelain and Christmas cards from the 1920s that were specially designed for children. Particularly charming are the foldable, colourful Christmas cards with which the toy shop Ferdinand Kühne in Görlitz enticed its young customers at the time - and certainly aroused anticipation for the festive season!

From 5 to 21 December 2024, visitors are invited to join guided tours every Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 5 pm. These can also be booked. To register, please contact 03581 8791-0 or museumsbildung@schlesisches-museum.de.