Graubünden, 19^th century

In Catholic churches after Holy Communion on Holy Thursday the bells fall silent until Easter Vigil in remembrance of Christ’s Passion and burial. The legend has it that the bells would fly to Rome to receive the papal blessing.

In some places Good Friday rattles replace the bells. They sound in the church tower or call to worship at the procession through the village. In the case of our model a rattling is produced by the wooden hammer that swings to both sides on the board. Since the 1950s this church custom is practiced less and less often in Graubünden.