Passing Bell

By Crusader1307

A Superstition Centuries old, ''Passing Bells'' derived from using hand held Bells to ''signal'' the death of a Person. Dating to German, French and English early Medieval History, The ''Passing Bell'' served two distinct purposes. The first – as stated, to announce to neighbors that a Person had died and for all to ''Pray For Them'' to pass either into Heaven (or Purgatory). The second, as a means of ''scaring away'' Demons who may try and ''steal their Souls''. In time, ''Passing Bells'' would evolve into a similar use in Churches, peeling out a specified number of times. In later cases however, Passing Bell observances were for Nobility or Royalty.