Do You Hear the Bells?

  Bells and the Christmas season just seem to go together. The clear ringing of church bells on Christmas Eve seem to be announcing to the world that Christmas is, indeed, finally here. One of America’s most beloved poets, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, expressed the meaning of Christmas bells in a poem, “Christmas Bells,” which was later made into the Christmas carol, “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day.” Few realize that the poem was not written to celebrate Christmas but as a message of personal thanksgiving. In 1863, the United States was torn apart by the Civil War. Charles Longfellow was serving with the Army of the Potomac and was severely wounded shortly after Thanksgiving Day that year. Because of the poor communication that existed at the time, the Longfellow family had no report of the condition of their son. Finally, by Christmas word had come to the family that their son, although wounded, was alive and would survive. The ringing of the bells on Christmas Day that year brought a special message of thanksgiving for the Longfellows. Before New Year’s Day, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow penned the poem in which he talks of the grief he has for his wounded son when he says, “And in despair I bowed my head: ‘There is no peace on earth,’ I said, ‘For hate is strong and mocks the song of peace on earth, good will to men.” But as he listens to the persistence of the Christmas bells and realizes there is hope after all when he remarks, “Then pealed the bells more loud and deep: God is not dead; nor doth he sleep! The wrong shall fail, The right prevail, With peace on earth, good will to men!” His personal poem became dear to all and was written as a Christmas carol for all to joyfully sing 9 years later.¹   Bells have been used since introduced by the Chinese around 4000 BC. Paul Revere established the first bell foundry in the United States.² The ringing of bells has become a part of our everyday lives. I recently returned from Switzerland where my wife and I saw many famous and beautiful clock towers with marvelous bells. The pealing of bells can remind us of the time of day. Bells can be used to warn of danger such as when there is a fire. Bells are rung at weddings and many other joyful events including the announcement of America’s separation from England with the Liberty Bell. Handbell choirs can produce beautiful music any time of the year, but are especially meaningful at Christmas. Few things are more inspiring than to hear Handel’s Hallelujah Chorus played by a handbell choir.   The slow, somber ringing of a bell can reflect sorrow. In the 1600s in England it was customary to ring a bell when a prisoner was to be executed. I vividly remember the slow tolling of the bells following the death of President Kennedy in 1963. If you don’t think bells play a role in your everyday life, think of the expressions we use each day. How often do you hear the expression “as clear as a bell”? Have you ever said, “That rings a bell” to imply that you remember something?   All of us will hear bells ringing this Christmas season. When you do hear the beautiful tones from the bells, I hope you will stop and consider what they mean to you. As Longfellow realized, they may remind us to give thanks for all that we have whether it be possessions, family, friends, health, or even a job. The message of the bells may be to remind us of the true meaning of Christmas. If you are fortunate enough to hear a handbell choir, the bells will help you celebrate the joy of the season and enjoy Christmas music in a beautiful and unique way. As you hear bells, reflect on what their beautiful melodies mean to you this time of year. Merry Christmas.     “Silver bells, silver bells,     It’s Christmas time in the city,     Ring-a-ling, hear them ring     Soon it will be Christmas day.”³ 1) Sechrist EH, Woolsey J. It’s Time for Christmas. Philadelphia, PA: Macrae Smith Co.; 1959:149–153. 2) Bailey B. Bells, Bells, Bells. New York, NY: Dodd, Mead, and Co.; 1978. 3) Livingston J, Evans R. Silver Bells; 1951.