To ring out the old and welcome in the new, members of the Washington Ringing Society will attempt a quarter peal on the bells of Washington National Cathedral this New Year's Eve.
Lasting approximately an hour, the ringing will begin at 10:30pm and can be heard from the surrounding avenues, gardens, and open spaces. The bells will be half-muffled to symbolize the passing of the old year. To half-muffle a bell, a leather muffle is placed on one side only of the clapper, resulting in a single, loud "open" strike followed by a muffled strike, which has a very sonorous and mournful echo effect.
At midnight, these muffles will be removed and the Cathedral will be the first to ring in the New Year with a half hour of jubilant ringing.
Want even more bells? Head to Washington National Cathedral on New Year's Day as the ringers attempt a full peal from the Gloria In Excelsis Deo tower.
