Bible Encyclopedias
Boards, Sacred

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

were small pieces of board struck together, for the purpose of assembling the people to worship, before the invention of bells. To the present day, the Catholics use such boards in Passion-week and Lent, because the noise of bells they consider to be unsuitable to the solemnity of the season. On the first day of Easter, the bells ring again, to betoken cheerfulness and joy.