Do You Hear What I Hear

by LYNN MARIE ALLEN

Bells have long been a part of Winter Holiday traditions, with Christmas and religious ceremonies in particular. Handbells have been traced back to the 5th Century B.C. in China—the oldest existing bells with handles found in China dating from 1600 B.C. Bells have been discovered all over the world. It was fashionable to carry a “handbell” to sing along to carols during the Victorian Era. 

Sparking traditions for ringing melodies and harmonies set to music for festive occasions such as Christmas got its claim to fame around the middle of the 19th Century. Throughout the 1830s, the Peake Family Ringers rose in popularity. The musically gifted family traveled from town to town as their engagements gathered popularity across America. Later, in 1840, P.T. Barnum featured handbells as one of his circus peculiarities with the Lancashire Bell Ringers from Liverpool, England. 

James Lord Pierpont wrote the catchy holiday tune Jingle Bells, published initially as a Thanksgiving tribute but later modified due to the winterish melody. There remains some controversy over “Jingle Bells,” written in 1850 when James resided in Medford, Massachusetts, or later in 1875 James lived in Savannah, Georgia. The song was published in the U.S. in 1857 and recorded in 1889. As always, there is so much more to every story. Cherish every moment to celebrate all the beautiful treasures all around you. Always remember to get up each day and #chaseyoursparkle and every #historymysteries!