Bells being rung on Christmas morning has been and is done to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.

A legend that has been told is that the bells were rung for an hour before midnight on the first Christmas eve, this was said to have been done to warm the forces of darkness of the imminent birth of the Saviour. At the stroke of midnight, the peal of the bells changed pitch into a joyous peal.

The bells sounding was also for another purpose as well. Just as bells are tolled to announce the death of someone they were also rung to tell the 'death' of the Devil which was brought upon by the coming of Jesus Christ. The church bell was also known as 'the Old Lad's Passing bell', 'Old Lad' which was said to be a euphenism for Satan. The bells pealing has also been assumed to chase away evil spirits, which are said to be repelled by noise of any kind.

There are many types of Christmas bells for the season. They can be heard on Christmas morning, they are used as decoration on Christmas cards as well as on the Christmas tree. Wassailers would use them to announce their presence by ringing them, so did Father Christmas, with jingling bells accompanying his sleigh progress.