What’s the first song that comes to mind when you think of Christmas?
Chances are, Jingle Bells is at or near the top of your list.
Its memorable tone and classic lyrics have earned it a spot on every holiday playlist — but some historians argue it wasn’t even intended for Christmas.
Could that be true, or was Jingle Bells really written with the spirit of the season in mind?
VERDICT:
FALSE
Jingle Bells wasn't initially meant to be a Christmas song. In fact, it was first performed at a Thanksgiving church service.
Interestingly, if you listen closely to the lyrics, there’s no mention of Christmas, Thanksgiving, or any other holiday.
Its composer, James Lord Pierpont, was inspired by the thrilling one-horse sleigh races that were held in Salem, Massachusetts, when he wrote the song in 1850.
On Sept 15, 1857, he released the song under its original title, One Horse Open Sleigh, and not the Christmas-related title we know today.
While some argued Pierpont wrote the song in a Medford, Massachusetts tavern, others claimed it was copyrighted in Savannah, Georgia, in 1857, suggesting he finished it while living there.
The song’s popularity grew gradually over the years and in 1898, the Edison Male Quartette became the first group to record it.
Many artists performed the song in the early 20th century, but its connection to Christmas wasn't solidified until the 1940s, according to Boston University researcher Kyna Hamill.
In 1943, Bing Crosby and The Andrews Sisters recorded their now-iconic rendition, cementing the song’s status as a Christmas classic for generations.
Next time you listen to the song, Jingle Bells reminds us that even the most well-known holiday songs can have surprising origins.
SOURCES:
https://www.history.com/news/
https://edition.cnn.com/2019/
https://www.the-sun.com/news/
https://www.bu.edu/articles/
