Noël pour la Patrie

Eagerly awaited every year, Christmas has long been a time for family celebrations. However, it can also be a time of darker realities, such as war. The exhibition explores these times of conflict through rich historical collections from Switzerland, France and Germany.

Discover the patriotic symbols that adorned Christmas trees when the world wars broke out, the military toys unwrapped by children or the greetings cards sent to the front. On both sides of the conflict, propaganda penetrated even into end-of-year traditions, and Christmas seemed to be about uniting the nation.

Exhibition curator
Marie Rochel
With the kind collaboration of:
Archiv für Zeitgeschichte ETH Zürich, Collection MICR Genève, Dreiländermuseum Lorräch, Musée du Jouet de Poissy, Museum der Kulturen Basel, Schweizerisches Nationalmuseum Zürich, Spielzeug Welten Museum Basel, Famille Dietrich, Alfred and Margrit Dünnenberger, Evelyne Gasser.