♬ Ring Christmas Bells ♬

I heard the bells on Christmas Day
Their old, familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet
The words repeat
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!


And thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along
The unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!


Till, ringing, singing on its way
The world revolved from night to day,
A voice, a chime,
A chant sublime
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!


Then from each black, accursed mouth
The cannon thundered in the South,
And with the sound
The Carols drowned
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!


And in despair I bowed my head;
‘There is no peace on earth,’ I said;
‘For hate is strong,
And mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!’


Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
‘God is not dead; nor doth he sleep!
The Wrong shall fail,
The Right prevail,
With peace on earth, good-will to men!’

"Christmas Bells" by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, American poet (1807-1882), written on December 25, 1864

Longfellow's words struck a taut chord in my heart as I watch the events from my beloved Egypt. The assembly of women in Tahrir Square and the peaceful students sitting on the street in front of the army give me some hope of peace triumphant. Hope lights the darkness.

Bells became this post's theme because today I rang my bell for the last time this yuletide. Having completed my volunteer assignment with the Salvation Army's Christmas kettle campaign, I will now retire my bell and Santa hat. Bells lift the heart and bring a smile . . . perhaps they ring hope into our hearts.

Little did I know that this evening's Christmas carol would turn out to be three songs in one. I am not highlighting the beautiful carol penned by Longfellow, "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day". Instead, in honour of the cheery spirit of bells, I turned to "Carol of the Bells". In its original form, it is a pre-Christian Ukrainian folk chant that was re-worked as a New Year's carol in 1904 by Mykola Leontovych (1877-1921) entitled "Shchedryk" (meaning 'bountiful'). Then in 1921, American composer Peter J. Wilhousky adapted Leontovych's work into "Carol of the Bells" and wrote the English lyrics that are, in fact, entirely unrelated to the original song. Two decades later, Minna Louise Hohman created alternative lyrics to emphasize the Nativity. The things you learn when you keep a blog! In any case, I enjoy all three songs.

Carol of the Bells Lyrics by Peter J. Wilhousky

Ring Christmas Bells Lyrics by Minna Louise Hohman

Hark how the bells, sweet silver bells, all seem to say, throw cares away Christmas is here, bringing good cheer, to young and old, meek and the bold. Ding dong ding dong that is their song with joyful ring all caroling. One seems to hear words of good cheer from everywhere filling the air. Oh how they pound, raising the sound, o'er hill and dale, telling their tale. Gaily they ring while people sing songs of good cheer, Christmas is here. Merry, Merry, Merry, Merry Christmas, Merry, Merry, Merry, Merry Christmas. On on they send, on without end, their joyful tone to every home. Ding dong ding... dong!

Ring Christmas bells, merrily ring Tell all the world, Jesus is King Loudly proclaim with one accord The happy tale, welcome the Lord Ring Christmas bells, sound far and near The birthday of Jesus is here Herald the news to old and young Tell it to all in every tongue Ring Christmas bells, merrily ring Tell all the world, Jesus is King Ring Christmas bells, toll loud and long Your message sweet, peal and prolong Come all ye people join in the singing Repeat the story told by the ringing Ring, ring, ring, ring Ring, ring, ring, ring