A Salvation Army donation collector rings the traditional bell. At least two major Toronto malls have banned the use of the bell indoors. (Mary Altaffer/Associated Press)

By CBC News

The ringing of Salvation Army bells has been one of the iconic sounds of the holiday season for more than 100 years in North America, but at least two of Toronto's largest shopping malls -- the Eaton Centre and Fairview -- have silenced them because of noise complaints.
Eaton Centre spokesman Brian O'Hoski points out the mall is an indoor environment with no overhead music or competing noises.

A few years back, he said, management asked the Salvation Army to stop ringing the bells because of noise complaints from some of the downtown mall's 230 tenants.
Eaton Centre shoppers were surprised to hear that noise complaints could shut down the Salvation Army bells.

"But it makes no sense," said Tristan Mitchell.

"It's Christmas," Iman Mahdi said. "It makes no sense."

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Do you want your local malls to ban Salvation Army bells? Do you find other holiday features -- like Christmas lights, caroling, and gift commercials -- irritating? Let us know in the comments below.