Happy New Year 1890, from the New Years 1890 series (N227) issued by Kinney Bros. 1889 - 1890

This small lithograph, 'Happy New Year 1890,' by Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company, features children ringing in the New Year with celebratory bells. In this festive image, the bells are visual symbols of joy and heralding new beginnings, deeply rooted in cultural traditions. The use of bells as a motif is fascinating; consider how bells, across different cultures and times, symbolize announcements and celebrations. We see them in church towers, town squares, even adorning the necks of animals. Their pealing resonates with announcements and shared experiences. Like the *campane* found in Pompeii, or the bells used in ancient rituals of purification, they are meant to ward off evil spirits and signal moments of great significance. Consider the emotional impact of the sound of the bell. The ringing creates a shared emotional experience, a collective memory, and perhaps even a sense of subconscious anticipation for what the New Year may bring. And thus, the cyclical nature of the symbol: from ancient rites to a New Year's greeting, the bell rings through time, carrying hope and the promise of renewal.