The exhibition “June Gems” that was open in the Museum of town and district history from June 24 to July 8 could be called traditional. It is usually staged in late June – early July when plenty of beautiful flowers blossom out in fields, meadows and vegetable gardens. It is very pleasant that more and more local residents join in this display every year. Children and teachers of the kindergarten ¹ 1 always take an active part in the event. This year they have brought bunches of natural flowers and compositions made of corrugated paper. Gardeners of the Kirillo-Belozersky museum-reserve participate in the exhibition every year.
“We need the sun, freedom and a small flower to live!” said great story-teller Hans Christian Andersen. He was certainly right – there is nothing in the world which is more beautiful and tender than the flower. Flowers please people during the whole life. When you get tired of city fuss, you go to the country. The nature gives an opportunity for a man to feel the beauty. Flowers can tell us a lot without words, their language is simple and romantic. Every flower has its own meaning. Flowers help people to express their feelings. Thousands of species of flowers decorate our planet. Festivals of flowers were the brightest display of love for different people from time immemorial: in Greece – in honour of hyacinths and lilies, in England – forget-me-nots and pansies, in Bulgaria – roses. In Russia, people celebrated the Kupala Night (Feast of St. John the Baptist) when they twined wreaths and garlands. According to the legend, fern blossomed out only at that night and people looked for it in the forest. They made fires, led cattle between them, jumped over the fire and, having driven away all evil forces, started to sing, to dance and to play various games.
The museum employees elaborated a playing program of the exhibition for children of local kindergartens. They learnt a legend about appearance of flowers on the Earth, remembered poems and fairy tales about flowers. Boys and girls were pleased to guess riddles about flowers, called women’s names originating from flower names. Besides, they fulfilled tasks written on the petals of a large camomile. Kids also got acquainted with flowers included into the Red Data Book. Everybody could learn a floral horoscope and dishes cooked using different parts of flowers.
The museum employees thank all participants of the exhibition!
