Crotalus (instrument)
Liturgical clapper used during the Pascal Triduum / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This article is about the liturgical rattle. For the genus of rattlesnakes, see Crotalus. For the antique musical instrument, see Crotalum.
A crotalus (Spanish: matraca),[1][2] also known as a crotalum or clapper, is a wooden liturgical rattle or clapper that replaces altar bells during the celebration of the Tridentine Paschal Triduum at the end of Lent in the Catholic Church.[3][4][5] It is also occasionally used during the celebration of the Ordinary Form Roman Missal during the Paschal Triduum, but its popularity decreased following the liturgical reforms of the Second Vatican Council.[6] The crotalus is also sometimes used in Episcopal Church parishes.[7][8]