Phyllis VanBuren: What is a bell?
At Christmas, the air is filled with the tintinnabulation of bells. The word itself replicates the “tin-tin-tin" (onomatopoeia) of the bells.
What is a bell? — a hollow metal percussion instrument that “rings” when struck. It also chimes, jingles, clangs, knells, peals, strikes, reverberates, resounds, and tolls (non-exhaustive list).
To enter another’s house, we ring the bell that chimes as we wait for someone to invite us into the residence.
In school, bells ring to indicate the start/end of a class, even lunch and recess.
In a commercial setting, we may strike a small bell to call an attendant to serve us.
Church bells ring to announce celebrations — worship, weddings, and other celebrations ... joyous events.
At a funeral, the tone becomes melancholy and the linguistic term changes. Bells toll for the departed.
Historically and even now in some cultures, bell towers serve as community clocks — marking the quarter hour, half-hour, and three-quarters hour with their unique tones, and the hour chiming out the number of strokes for the hour.
Bells call for help or signal warning for a particular community.
Bells announce.
Some of my favorite memories at Christmas center around bells. I recall “Silver Bells” as I joined my mother and sister baking cookies. I recall both grandchildren loving to jingle the bells hanging on doorknobs and bursting forth with strains of “Jingle Bells.”
As a teacher, Christmas carols embodied the 3Ps of language teaching: products — the songs, practices — when and where they were sung and by whom, perspectives — the cultural values reflected in the lyrics. Teaching language and culture through music was a methodology that captured the interest and attention of almost all students. All participated in the study of the language and culture of the classroom — a language lesson. NO ONE was forced to accept those views. It was information, not indoctrination. One example is “Campanas de Belén” — the Bells of Bethlehem. One notes similarities with this song and Christian carols, even with “The Night Before Christmas,” a traditional secular poem.
Another favorite, “Jingle Bells” or “Cascabel, Cascabel” provided a familiar tune but notably cultural differences. It even became a science lesson as we compared the sleigh ride along snowy paths with the temperate December weather in many Spanish-speaking countries. It was also quickly apparent that literal translations cannot occur and maintain the message, the melody or the rhythm.
While many enjoy the melody and rhythm, there is always a message in and under the lyrics. One example comes from “The Carol of the Bells.” This carol provides a twist of history and the onomatopoeic “ding dong” of the bells. Originally, this pre-Christian Ukrainian chant focused on fluttering swallows and spring. In the 20th century, Peter Wilhousky penned lyrics related to Christmas. The silver bells announced the “Merry, merry, merry, merry ...” arrival of Christmas.
“Silver Bells” was written in 1950, years after the 1936 reference by Wilhousky in “The Carol of the Bells.” Its origin and original title “Tinkle Bells” are questioned.
Carols and their bells announce — the hope that Christmas brings through the birth of the Christ Child and the happiness celebrated in the sacred and secular Christmas scene.
What other carols refer to the joyful, hopeful sounds of bells?
“Silver Bells” — Ring a ling, hear them ring. ... Soon it'll be Christmas day
“I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day” — I heard the bells on Christmas Day ... Their old familiar carols play
“Sleigh Ride” — Just hear those sleigh bells jingle-ing
“Caroling, Caroling” — Christmas bells are ringing
“White Christmas” — To hear sleigh bells in the snow
There are so many more ... and that leads to my Christmas Challenge.
As you enjoy the melodic strains this Christmas, please take time to really listen/read the lyrics. What is the intended message? What is the history of that carol? Do the words and/or messages remind you of another carol? Which one? How? Is there a historical nexus?
May the bells signal celebration, hope, and joy. May they also toll the end of ignorance and announce the beginnings of deeper appreciation of Yuletide.
Merry CHRISTmas and Happy HOL[Y]days!!
I hear bells!!
— This is the opinion of Times Writers Group member Phyllis E. VanBuren, a lifelong learner and enthusiastic educator, who values family, friends, faith, honesty, liberty and integrity. Her column is published the fourth Sunday of the month.
This article originally appeared on St. Cloud Times: Phyllis VanBuren: What is a bell?
