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Show PUDDING BELL STILL RUNG Church In the County Palatine Gives Warning It Is Time to Begin Frying Pancakes. Concerning church bells Mr. Frnnk Hlrd tells of tho quaint customs which aro still observed in somo of the parishes par-ishes In tho County Palatine. Beforo tho Reformation tho great bell ot tho parish was rung on Shrovo Tuesdny to call tho people together for tho confession of their sins, or to bo "shriven;" henco tho nutne of tho day. "This bell," sayB Mr. Hlrd, "is still rung In somo parts of Lancashire, and Is still called the 'Panjrako Bell,' bolng now regarded only as a, signal to tho people to begin frying their pancakes. "In somo villages n bel Is rung aa I tho congregation Is leaving tho church , after tho morning service This Is j known as tho 'Pudding Bell It having hav-ing been firmly believed for many generations gen-erations that It Is rung to warn those I at homo to get tho dinner ready "Tho origin of the ringing of this bell Is not known, but llko many other oth-er old customs, It still lingers In tho romoter parts of tho country, announcing an-nouncing to the vlllago that tho ecrv-Ico ecrv-Ico Is over nnd thnt 'pudding time has como.' "So late ns 1870 tho curfow bell was rung nt Burnley, Colne, Blackburn, Black-burn, Padham, and In many other towns nnd vitlnges. This, perhaps. Is tho most remarkable instance of tho PHrsIsteuco of an old custom centuries nftor It has ceased to havo any reason." rea-son." ! |
