I don’t know what it was like for you growing up, but in Corozal, the small town where I grew up in Belize, we had church bells ringing all the time. Being a predominantly Catholic country, you could say that the sound of those bells regimented our lives. But this is not to be seen as a negative thing– the value these bells gave us was pause and time of reflection, even when we didn’t know we needed to pause and reflect.
They rang thrice daily, at 6 am, 12 pm, and 6 pm, to call the faithful to recite the Angelus, a prayer to honor the Incarnation of God.
Mother told me, but I left home before learning to recite the Angelus and carried with me only the lesson that the bells were there to remind me to spread goodwill. That alone made me love the sound of bells.
In my hometown, the Christmas and New Year’s Day bells rang loud and strong at midnight– the only time they sounded in the dead of night, and I must tell you, those happy bells were my favorite.
Contrasting those happy bells, the sad Good Friday ones also resonated loud and strong but were made to drag on and on.
Perhaps you’re familiar with such traditions? Did you hear bells growing up? What did they signify? I’d love to hear what it was like in your corner of the world.
There were more bell-ringing occasions, though. Pull a chair, let me tell you.
There were bells that announced someone’s death in town or sometimes, for someone from our town who passed away in a foreign land. These were sad bells, baritone, grief-sounding, and rung slow. Everyone recognized those bells. When we heard them, we stopped whatever it was we were doing, solemnly crossed ourselves, and wondered for whom the bells tolled.
These bells often sent our mothers outside to talk to neighbors to ascertain the grieving family’s identity and start preparations for the formalities to follow. It’s worth noting, too, that after hearing those sad bells, all sounds from radio and television ceased. If not turned off completely, turned down low to show respect for our dearly departed.
Then there were the soprano sounding bells announcing Christenings. Those rang high and tapered off to a hush in around a minute. We liked those bells and nodded at each other when we heard them. In my home, Mother instructed me to whisper a soft “Come to Jesus,” to welcome the newly baptized child to Jesus’ team.
Then there was the glorious jingle-jingle echoing bells of weddings which went on for much too long; perhaps a whole four minutes without pausing. They were the hardest to ignore during the day as they made everyone smile, inhale deeply, and sometimes hug each other, symbolizing a hug sent in the direction of the newlyweds. For sure, those weekends with people Getting Married in our town were memorable.
In any case, these bells gave us reason to pause, connect with the spirits of those for whom the bells rung. Also, to help us find solace in reciting a prayer, thus, nourishing our souls.
***
Here in Japan, where I’ve lived for three decades now, I never hear church bells ringing. Never, but for the 108 hammering sounds of temple bells that are a familiar sound to every New Year’s Eve.
The bell that’s rung then is referred to as Joya no Kane, with Joya translating to New Year’s Eve night and Kane meaning bell.
The Joya bell is rung a total of 107 times on New Year’s Eve; by monks in many temples, but in my area, by temple visitors. It usually starts at 11:00 pm and then one more time just as the clock strikes midnight. This brings it to a total of 108 times.
Why 108, you ask. The belief is that 108 is the number of worldly desires and troubles of the mind– such as desire, anger, and pain that a person experiences throughout one’s life. The bells are rung 107 times to cleanse us of these 108 worldly desires accumulated during the year. And the last one, the 108th strike, carries with it the meaning of not worrying about last year’s problems.
Like solemnly making the sign of the cross at the sound of the death bells, the whispering for the baptism bells, the hugging at the time of the wedding bells, and the celebratory feel of the bells rung at midnight, I’ve come to love the sound of the Joya no Kane that purifies me.
They reverberate differently than the midnight bells back in my hometown and come with the bonus of a winter night sky that, in my opinion, makes the pounding sound thrill like an echo in my heart. In my home, we open up a window and brace for that last sound that encourages me to believe in the promise of a clean slate into the new year.
BUT. Last year there were no such sounds on New Year’s Eve here. The pandemic situation is to blame for that. Regardless, I have a clean slate, and so do you.
What about where you live now? Did the bells ring as usual at years end? If they didn’t, did you miss it? And if they resonated in the night, did they bring you a message?
***
For completing this article, I asked family and friends about those bells in my childhood home and was saddened to know that they haven’t been ringing– not in 2020, not in 2021. I can only hope that our world recovers from this pandemic and its many setbacks quickly.
In closing, and to end in a positive tone, I wish to point out that though the bells’ symbolism might differ, they share a sameness when they make us pause and ask that we be present. So, as long as there are symbols like bells and cultural traditions that remind and uplift us, we can continue to spread goodwill to cheer each other up. These days we need this kind of symbolism that can unite us. Imagine!
Main: Image by StockSnap from Pixabay
Temple: Image by hideki_sato from Pixabay
THANK YOU FOR READING
I Wish You Miracles.
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We didn’t have bells in our area growing up, but I’ve always loved the sound of bells. When we visited Italy, I loved waking to the bells each morning. Their rich sounds reverberating through the air filled my day with hope. Thanks for sharing both cultures. I had never heard of the Joya no Kane, but I do believe in the opportunity to leave the old mistakes behind and start fresh.
With gratitude…
Oh my, glad I was able to present you with something new — Joya no Kane. That’s what we’re here for. The happiness I feel at sharing my experience from my part of the world is permanent. Those bells of my childhood days taught me good lessons. I’m pleased to know you appreciated them in Italy. Those must have been amazing. Thanks for giving me something to look forward to hearing in the future. Much gratitude to you. I wish you miracles.
Selma –
I love this article about bells ringing for different occasions in the home of your birth. I never experienced the ritual of bell ringing, but it sounds like it would be very comforting.
Lori
Lori. Hi! What a gem. You read and blessed me with a comment. xoxo.
Those bells were precious to me, indeed. But they grew even more precious once I stopped hearing them. Isn’t that how things work? I’ll say!
Yes, they were comforting and they made us participants of a lively little community. Gave us something to do. They kept us sane. At the moment, I understand the bells have gone quiet. It saddens me. I hope they get restored soon.
Thanks for the visit and the comment, partner. Be well. I wish you miracles.
Remember Good Friday the bells did not ring until midnight which marked the resurrection of Jesus Christ.. it was a day of silence which could and is still… literally felt.. the matracas sounded instead to mark the time.. luckily we can still experience the sound of bells and know of their significance in our little corner of the planet..
Ciao!
I love the sound of my church bells .. I never wear a watch; the bell rings the hours accordingly and then every 1/2 hour it repeats the hours followed by a hollower gong which stands for the 1/2 hour.
I love to hear it at night ,I don’t feel alone.
Our bells call people to pray, to announce a death , to celebrate Christmas, to mourn Christ’s death on Good Friday..
About 15 years ago the church tower was hit by lightning and it took six months to repair it .. I really missed my “friend”.
Ciao, Tempeste. Oh wow. You hear bells! I love it. I miss them.
Those bells are good reminders. And indeed they help spread goodwill.
I love love love hearing your thoughts on this. Thanks so much for commenting.
Be well. I wish you miracles.
(Good night from me. zzzZ)
Pingback: The Promise: We Begin the Year with a Clean Slate – Selma
Beautiful, and I learned many things today!
My pleasure, always. Stay lovely, dear friend. I bless you.
A most interesting post Selma. You have shared the ringing in of the new year for us. I grew up in the country, so I never heard bells ringing. Being a mile out of town, we could hear the whistle on the firehouse in town that rang every day at noon! I love all of your stories about the meaning of bell ringing!
I appreciate it how you made the detour here, Dwight. And glad you enjoyed knowing how it was for me growing up. The Church is in the center of town and the sound travels far. I can only imagine how the silence had displaced people there right now. No bells for two years now. Sad to hear that from my sister who lives there with her family.
That firehouse whistle must be memorable for you as well. Nice memory. Nice way to mark lunchtime, right.
Be well. Let’s all continue to spread goodwill with our 🖊. thanks for commenting. xo
You are welcome!
Thank you for bringing the bells of Joya no Kane to my attention. I have been to Japan more than a dozen times, but never at New Year, and this was all completely new to me.
It gives me great pleasure to be able to bring you something new, Ron. What joy!
Happy travels to you. Perhaps one year you’ll make it to Japan during the New Year. All the best.
Happy New Year to you. xo
This is fascinating. I wasn’t aware of this tradition. There is something interesting about the marking of occasions with the ringing of bells
Hi, JYP. Are you close to recovered? I do hope so, my sweet.
Thanks for choosing to read this post and so glad it gave you a new awareness. There’s much to love about small towns. I know I love being brought up by mine.
Have a good year. You start with a clean slate, remember so fill it up with real magic. Happy New Year. I bless you. xo
Wow…. I’ve never heard of anything like this – it’s so interesting! I can well imagine how those bells must have shaped the consciousnesses of so many children who grew up with them ringing on a daily basis for so many varied reasons. Thanks for sharing this, Selma – it’s a fantastic post and slice of life from a place I’ve never ever been.
May I ask if you still have family there? Do you ever go back to visit?
<3
David
Oh, David, I’m so glad you enjoyed reading this slice.
It takes getting used-to to-live in a small town. Those bells were lovely. They brought us to moments of awareness. Every time.
Perhaps some people hated them but I enjoyed their existence.
Right now, they haven’t rang for a whole two years. That must be hard, in a disorienting kind of way. Like a sailboat without direction, maybe.
The pandemic has affected the small nation big time (tourism is the backbone industry) plus, lots of anti-vaxxers in the country. And yes, effects of global warming have given rise to natural disasters. Saddens me.
I have a sister and two brothers living there still.
At the cusp of Christmas 2014/New Year 2015 is the last time I visited. Went to lay my mother to rest then.
Without Mom there now, hometown doesn’t feel the same anymore.
I’m so glad you found something fascinating here. I so glad to have shared this one with you.
Be well, my sweets. All the best. XoXo.