The Meaning of the Bells

On Christmas days many churches will ring their bells in the morning. But why?? How did bells become part of the Christmas celebration

The Anglican and Catholic churches often have a Christmas Eve celebration. The church bell or bells are often rung to signal the start of the Christmas service. In the UK a tradition exist that the largest bell in the church must be rung 4 times in the the hour before midnight and then at midnight all the bells are rung to celebrate Christmas day. Whenever the bells are rang before the service at Christmas eve, an hour before Christmas day or both it seems the bell is very significant in the ceremony.

The Catholic church strictly resist midnight service except for two services a year. Christmas day and Easter are the only times that Mass is allowed at midnight. The altar bells at those services are rung while the Priest says the "Gloria". .It is believed that Christ was born at midnight. Many countries including France, Spain and Italy the midnight mass is very important and everyone tries to give to a service.

The bell was also included during Victorian days as well. With carolers traveling here and fro the small handbells helped play the tune of the carol. At times the bells were played without singing. Today the handbells are still part of Christmas. Perhaps you have heard the handbells during the famous song "Jingle Bells"

"Jingle Bells" was not the original name of the famous Christmas carol. The original name of the song was "One Horse Open Sleigh". The song was published in 1857 in the United States . One other thing you may not know it was not written as a Christmas song but rather aimed at Thanksgiving. Perhaps you are not aware that the ending verses of the song that are not often sang speak of the sleigh going to fast and crashing.






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