What exactly is a bell

A bell is an instrument which, when struck, makes a ringing sound. There are many different kinds of bells, and most of them are important in our lives. Among these are church bells, door bells, clock bells, fire-alarm bells, dinner bells, (as used on farms to call the men in from the fields,) cow bells, (hung around the cows' necks so that their tinkling sound helps the farmer to find them), musical bells, as played in the orchestra, chimes and carillons, Christmas bells, school bells, burglar-alarm bells, and many others.

People have always made and used bells, as far back in history as we know. The first ones were made of sheets of brass or another metal, hammered flat, and fastened together with rivets. In Belfast, Ireland, there is one in a museum which is believed to have belonged to St. Patrick almost 1,500 years ago. But it was not long before men learned how to "cast" bells, by pouring liquid metal into a mold, or form, and letting it get cold and hard. This was first done in China where the bells were believed to have a magical effect upon evil spirits