I have just completed writing a long and the hopefully informative post on the subject of the folklore of bells, when my stupid bloody voice recognition software mistook the word closed for a command to close the window and I lost a lot! That’ll teach me …
else have you been used since ancient times for a variety of purposes although nowadays we tend to associate them almost entirely with Sunday mornings. The ‘passing bell’ was a bell which was rung when people were on the point of death, and was supposed to help drive away any evil spirits that would otherwise pounce on the soul as it left the body. In ancient Greece people would beat on pans and kettles at the moment of death to scare away the Furies.
Horse brasses often featured tiny bells rang as the horse moved and help to protect it against Maleficium or the evil eye. Church and chapel bells were consecrated, meaning they were blessed, which was believed to give them the special power to disperse storms drive away plague and put out fires. Even in the middle of the 19th century bells were sometimes rung for up to an hour to drive away storms.
Bells were also used in falconry and the saying ‘give her the bells and let her fly’ meant that one shouldn’t throw good money after bad. If a falconer thought that one of his birds was no use, he would let escape, bells and all, rather than waste any more time and effort with its training.
Bells could also be rung to warn whole communities of impending danger. Just as beacons were lit on hills that were visible for miles around, so the sound of chiming bells could be heard over a wide area. Most parish churches had a belltower with o’clock, and even if you could not see the clock face you could work out the correct time from the chimes. One of the most unusual – and ancient – chiming clocks I’ve ever seen is down in Wells Cathedral in Somerset and is well worth a visit if you ever get the chance.
I often use bells in psychic self-defence and ritual cleansings. It’s quick, simple and does the job. You can feel the air tingling afterwards. It doesn’t matter what size bell you use although a large bell does the job more quickly. The largest bell we have came from the now demolished chapel and Mr Penry had to make a special stand for it many years ago. We ring it on special festivals and occasions and whenever we feel our home would benefit from some magical cleansing. It’s affectionately known as Clarence the Clanger!
An interesting post ….. thank you 🙂
That is an interesting post and I learnt a little bit more from it.
Why do you use voice rathen typing?
P xx
I have Tibetan bells that I sound before meditating.
The sound of the bell , if you choose to focus and follow it carries you deeper and deeper inside and can also be used to bring you back out of meditation.
I like the idea of spirit entering the body at the sound of a bell.
Very interesting post, Tylluan .
XXX
Bells of old move into current day with similar uses when the circumstances arise.
The clock face, reminds me of the clock at Hampton Court, there is also a very interesting sundial there too. They may all be of a similar age.
The body’s spirit leaving, reminds me of when a relative died in hospital. Though no bells were tolled, the nursing sister immediately opened the window to allow the spirit to leave. I wasn’t sure I wanted this at the time. I felt it rushed things along. It was her
tradition and need. Yet as air breathed into the room, I heard outside sounds that formed nondescript notes. To a musician this would not be anything unusual I expect. For me, it was different, I don’t normally associate the sounds of moving life with musical tones.
I’m delighted with your story Menhir.
Tylluan I truly am grateful for your story of bells. I had no idea of the tradition behind them. I do know I am attracted to old bells particularly and now I know why!
Bells have come to symbolize warnings in our culture on this side of the Atlantic. Hence I have bear bells for all my staff when they go walking in the woods. It warns the bears to keep away from humans invading the bear turf!
We use bells on bikes and I love the tinkling I hear when a cow wears a bell. However the farmers here usually only put bells on cows that are difficult and unpredictable. Sleigh bells can still be occasionally heard in these parts on the Clydesdale horses that haul sleighs just for fun in the wintertime. My sister-in-law has a tradition with all her adult kids and grandkids to ring in the Christmas holiday season by going on a sleigh ride. Kids and adults alike love it.
Many blessings for this post!
I find bells absolutely delightful. I envy you your lovely large bell that Mr. P put on a stand for you.
Thank you, Moonwoman for your comment.
I was particularly taken with your associations, many of which are very familiar to me, yet had escaped my memory. You have introduced me to bear bells. How does that work? I would have thought alerting bears to a human’s location would put someone in danger of a bear ambush.
The Swiss do use cowbells not just on cattle, but in their tourist industry. Loads of them are sold as souvenirs. There are also ancient traditions of seeing out the old spirits, good and bad, at the end of the year, with the inclusion of bells of all sizes in the ceremony.
If you haven’t heard it lately, you might enjoy a suite of music called Lt. Kijé by Prokofiev.
Our black bears are actually very shy creatures when they are not humanized by human garbage. We have a couple of black bear sows living at the back of our ranch. They have lived here as long as I have for 20 years. Yet I have only seen one of their babies once when they ventured too near the farm house and my dogs treed a baby who cried like a human baby. I brought the 3 farm dogs into the house and hours later, the little black bear got the courage to climb down out of the swaying tree.
So because we humans are invading their territory, when we carry bells with us, it alerts the shy bear that humans are in the area. They hide in the woods and try to avoid us.
I love this idea of seeing in the old and new spirits with bells. That truly resonates with me as the sound of bells are so pure. I have seen pictures of the lovely swiss bells and think they are beautiful works of art as well. Thanks for the info on the music!
Nice idea.xx
Great post 😀 and i love the name of your bell :)) xx
What a lovely explanation of our use of bells.
I feel sorry that the falconer released his falcon, with bells still attached.
Rather cruel.
Bells always raises the heckles and often makes me start crying.
I don’t know why.
My gran took me to visit Wells Cathedral a long time ago, when I was still under ten.
We lived in Somerset, and she was married in Sherborne Abbey, 1915.
Both the bells of Wells, and Sherborne Abbey are most harmonious and melliflous.
Thank you for all this wonderful information, dear Tylluan.
Hugs: JW xx
I do hope this wonderful information will be in your book that is about to be released, Tylluan. Your instructions and explanations bring me so much closer to my old Home Country.
I have been a lost sheep for most of my life, and this reminds me of my own worth. Thank you, Tylluan: JR XX
You’re very welcome… 🙂 Sometimes we just need a little nudge to send us in the direction we have been seeking. I Shall try and post up a list of the things in my book in my next blog post. 🙂
I’ve always been a huge fan of choo choo clocks.