Why did Luffy ring the bell 16 times?


I'm confused as to why Luffy rung the bell 16 times. A navy member said it's a
declaration of war whereas a pirate said it's about the change of an era. Can
someone please explain what exactly is the reason behind it??




The bell is called the [Ox-Bell](http://onepiece.wikia.com/wiki/Ox_Bell).

What does the ringing of the bell signify?

> The ringing of the bell signifies the end of one year and the beginning of
> another. It is rung eight times to give thanks for the old year, and another
> eight times to welcome the new year. If it is rung twice, it signifies some
> sort of disaster or distress.

**How others interpreted 16 rings:**

> Lieutenant Commander Brandnew of the Marines analyzed it as a declaration of
> war, and Killer of the Kid Pirates interpreted the meaning of it as the end
> of one era and the beginning of another.

![The Ox Bell](https://i.stack.imgur.com/2IwkCm.png)

**The real reason behind it:**

> Luffy's ringing of the bell was only a distraction, along with his other
> actions, so nobody in the world outside of the Straw Hat Pirates would
> notice the real message; in the picture of Luffy after ringing the Ox Bell,
> a mark is seen on his arm that reads 3D2Y with the 3D crossed out,
> representing the amount of time the crew would be separated.




The bell is called the [Ox-Bell](http://onepiece.wikia.com/wiki/Ox_Bell).

What does the ringing of the bell signify?

> The ringing of the bell signifies the end of one year and the beginning of
> another. It is rung eight times to give thanks for the old year, and another
> eight times to welcome the new year. If it is rung twice, it signifies some
> sort of disaster or distress.

**How others interpreted 16 rings:**

> Lieutenant Commander Brandnew of the Marines analyzed it as a declaration of
> war, and Killer of the Kid Pirates interpreted the meaning of it as the end
> of one era and the beginning of another.

![The Ox Bell](https://i.stack.imgur.com/2IwkCm.png)

**The real reason behind it:**

> Luffy's ringing of the bell was only a distraction, along with his other
> actions, so nobody in the world outside of the Straw Hat Pirates would
> notice the real message; in the picture of Luffy after ringing the Ox Bell,
> a mark is seen on his arm that reads 3D2Y with the 3D crossed out,
> representing the amount of time the crew would be separated.

