Crotal bells are small rattling bells with a pellet inside that appeared across the globe, from Europe where they were used in horse harnesses, folk music and rituals, to the Far East, including Japan where they are called suzu (鈴) and used in Shinto rituals and traditional dances. In China and India, crotal bells adorned clothing and animals for protection, while in Africa and the Americas, they played spiritual and ceremonial roles. Their simple design made them a universal tool for music, rituals, and daily life.