The clanging of a bell

I like the crystally clanging sound of the bell.

I particularly like to listen to it outside the church on Christmas eve.

Bells are used in Christian churches as well as Hindu and Buddhist temples as a means of keeping evil away. The bell tolled at funerals is now explained as a signal to the living that a soul is passing to the other side and should be accompanied by prayers. But originally the tolling was intended to prevent evil forces from interfering with the soul's heavenward journey.

In ancient times all over the world, bell was believed that evil spirits could put up with just anything except the clanging of a bell. Over time, the bell itself, even when not ringing, came to be regarded as a powerful lucky symbol. Because it is suspended in a hanging position, it takes on the representation of all life suspended between heaven and earth. Its vault-like shape has become a symbol of heaven.

As for the Chinese, giving someone bells or clocks as gifts shall be avoided, because in Chinese language, giving away bells or clocks is 'Song Zhong'（送钟）, which shares the homophone of 'Song Zhong'（送终）, it means attending upon a dying senior member of one's family.