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**Christmas tree decoration cucumber, 2024, Germany** © Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Museum Europäischer Kulturen / Christian Krug

**Hilario & Georgina Mendívil, Nativity figures, detail, around 1980, Peru** © Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Museum Europäischer Kulturen / Christian Krug

**The exhibition programme includes ‘speed dating’ with exciting objects, creative design, singing together and swapping annoying Christmas presents** © Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Museum Europäischer Kulturen / Christian Krug

**Decorated Christmas tree in the exhibition** © Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Museum Europäischer Kulturen / Christian Krug

**The szopka is a nativity scene that is unique to Krakow in Poland.** © Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Museum Europäischer Kulturen / Christian Krug

**This szopka dates from the 1960s and features many details to search and discover.** © Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Museum Europäischer Kulturen / Christian Krug

**Nativity scene with birds by Eugeniusz Zegadlo, Poland, 1970s/80s** © Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Museum Europäischer Kulturen / Christian Krug

**Nativity Scene by Hilario and Georgina Mendívil, Peru, 1970s/80s** © Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Museum Europäischer Kulturen / Christian Krug

Christmas Time with All the Senses
Surprises From the MEK’s Collection

29.11.2024 to 05.02.2025
Museum Europäischer Kulturen

The Christmas season is full of unique smells, tastes, sounds and sights. All our senses are heightened and engaged this time of year. The special exhibition Christmas Time with All the Senses at the Museum of European Cultures (MEK) explores this phenomenon, showing a wide range of related pieces from its extensive collection.

The significance of Christmas has sparked many meanings and customs: spending time with friends and family, celebrating the birthday of Jesus Christ, and pausing to reflect and enjoy the season. Christmas is also a festival of the senses and full of surprises. The mixture of lights, smells and sounds creates an enchanting atmosphere. And all these experiences of Christmas are conveyed through the senses – whether it be the scent of incense and organ music in church, the taste of home-baked Christmas cookies or singing carols together under a Christmas tree.

But the Christmas season is more than just sensory experiences; surprises also play a substantial role, including Advent calendars, filled stockings and shoes or 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 “gifts” for visitors from its extensive Christmas collection. The objects come from various European countries and Latin America: brightly coloured nativity figures with strikingly long necks by the Mendívils, an artist couple from Peru, an imposing tree of life from Mexico, the colourful hustle and bustle in a “nativity scene tavern” from Naples, Italy, and the mesmerising shadow play created by a rotating Christmas lamp from Germany. Or the frightening mask of a wild animal – what does it have to do with Christmas? Of course, Advent calendars with 24 little doors full of surprises are also a must. Christmas Time with All the Senses is an exhibition full of surprises visitors can engage with first-hand.

A special exhibition of the Museum Europäischer Kulturen (Museum of European Cultures) – Staatliche Museen zu Berlin