Jingle Bells: The History and Meaning of a Classic Christmas Song
Jingle Bells is one of the most well-known and most commonly sung Christmas songs in the world. But do you know the story behind this festive melody? In this article, we will explore the history and meaning of Jingle Bells, from its origins as a sleighing song to its controversial and mysterious aspects, to its popularity and legacy as a Christmas classic.
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Introduction
What is Jingle Bells?
Jingle Bells is a song that describes the fun and excitement of riding in a one-horse open sleigh through the snow. The chorus goes like this:
Jingle bells, jingle bells
Jingle all the way
Oh, what fun it is to ride
In a one-horse open sleigh, hey
The song has four verses that tell the story of a man who takes his sweetheart for a sleigh ride, but ends up falling in the snow and being laughed at by another rider. The song also mentions the bells that are attached to the horse's harness, which make a jingling sound as they move.
Who wrote Jingle Bells?
The composer and lyricist of Jingle Bells was James Lord Pierpont (1822-1893), an American songwriter and organist who was born in Boston, Massachusetts. He was also the uncle of J.P. Morgan, one of the most powerful financiers of the Gilded Age. Pierpont wrote many songs in his lifetime, but Jingle Bells is his most famous and enduring work.
When and where was Jingle Bells written?
This is where things get complicated. There are two historical plaques in two cities, each claiming to be the birthplace of Jingle Bells. One is in Medford, Massachusetts, where a plaque at 19 High Street commemorates the spot where Pierpont supposedly wrote the song in 1850, while watching sleigh races on Salem Street. The other is in Savannah, Georgia, where Pierpont moved in 1853 to become the organist at a Unitarian church that was pastored by his brother. There, people insist that Pierpont wrote the song in late 1857, before leading the first Jingle Bells sing-along in a local church.
However, neither claim is conclusive. According to recent research by Kyna Hamill, a historian at Boston University, Pierpont could not have written the song in 1850, because he was in California chasing gold during the Gold Rush. He returned to Boston in 1851, but left again for Georgia in 1853. Hamill suggests that Pierpont most likely wrote the song in a rooming house near his home in downtown Boston in 1857, based on evidence from sheet music and newspaper advertisements.
The song was originally titled "The One Horse Open Sleigh" and was published by Oliver Ditson & Co., a Boston music publishing house, on September 16, 1857. It was later reissued with the title "Jingle Bells; or, The One Horse Open Sleigh" in 1859.
The Controversy and Mystery of Jingle Bells
Was Jingle Bells a Thanksgiving song?
Some sources claim that Jingle Bells was originally written to be sung by a Sunday school choir Some sources claim that Jingle Bells was originally written to be sung by a Sunday school choir for Thanksgiving, or as a drinking song. According to History.com, the jingling bells refer to the New England sleigh races that were popular in the 1800s. After Pierpont performed the song during a Thanksgiving concert, it was officially published in 1857. Decades later, Christmas adopted Jingle Bells as its own.
Was Jingle Bells a drinking song?
Some scholars suggest that Jingle Bells was not only a sleighing song, but also a drinking song. The lyrics mention "upsot", which could mean either "upset" or "tipsy", and the chorus invites people to "go it while you're young" and "take the girls tonight". The song also has elements of "male display", boasting, and unbridled behavior that were typical of blackface minstrelsy. Pierpont himself was a heavy drinker and a failed businessman who wrote many songs for minstrel shows.
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Was Jingle Bells a racist song?
Another controversy surrounding Jingle Bells is its possible racist origins. Some historians argue that the song was written for and performed in blackface, a form of theatrical makeup and entertainment that caricatured African Americans in a derogatory way. The evidence for this claim includes the fact that Pierpont dedicated the song to John P. Ordway, an organizer of a blackface minstrel troupe, and that the song was first performed at Ordway Hall, a venue for minstrel shows in Boston. Moreover, some of the words and phrases in the song, such as "Miss Fanny Bright", "dashing through the snow", and "thro", "tho't", and "upsot", suggest a racialized performance that attempted to sound "southern" to a northern audience.
The Popularity and Legacy of Jingle Bells
How did Jingle Bells become a Christmas song?
Jingle Bells did not have any original connection to Christmas, but it became associated with winter and Christmas music in the 1860s and 1870s. One reason for this is that sleigh rides were a popular winter activity and a symbol of romance and nostalgia. Another reason is that the song was featured in a variety of parlor song and college anthologies in the 1880s, which helped spread its popularity among young people. The song also appeared in several Christmas-themed musicals and films, such as Laurel and Hardy's Babes in Toyland (1934) and Judy Garland's Meet Me in St. Louis (1944).
Who recorded Jingle Bells?
Jingle Bells is one of the most recorded songs of all time. Many notable artists have recorded the song, from various genres and styles. Some of the earliest recordings were done by Bing Crosby and The Andrews Sisters (1945), Frank Sinatra (1957), Ella Fitzgerald (1960), and Nat King Cole (1960). Some of the most popular versions include those by Barbra Streisand (1967), Dolly Parton (1990), Michael Bublé featuring The Puppini Sisters (2011), and Pentatonix (2014). Some of the most unusual versions include those by Basshunter (2006), Andrea Bocelli with the Muppets (2009), and Straight No Chaser (2009).
How did Jingle Bells go to space?
Jingle Bells was also the first song to be broadcast from space, in a Christmas-themed prank by Gemini 6 astronauts Tom Stafford and Wally Schirra. While in space on December 16, 1965, they sent this report to Mission Control:
C6: Gemini VII, this is Gemini VI. We have an object, looks like a satellite going from north to south, up in a polar orbit. He's in a very low trajectory traveling from north to south and has a very high climbing ratio. It looks like it might even be a ... Very low ... Looks like he might be going to reenter soon. Stand by one ... You might just let me try to pick up that thing.
C: This is Houston. Say again please, Gemini VI.
C6: We have some very pretty music coming down. Then, they played a harmonica and a set of bells that they had smuggled on board, while singing the chorus of Jingle Bells. The prank surprised and amused the ground crew, as well as the millions of people who heard the broadcast.
Conclusion
Summary of the main points
Jingle Bells is a song that has a rich and fascinating history, from its origins as a sleighing song to its controversies and mysteries, to its popularity and legacy as a Christmas classic. It is a song that reflects the culture and spirit of its time, as well as the creativity and humor of its composer. It is also a song that has transcended its original context and meaning, and has become a universal symbol of joy and celebration.
Call to action and closing remarks
Now that you know more about Jingle Bells, why not listen to it again and appreciate its nuances and details? You can also learn more about the song by visiting the websites and sources that we have cited in this article. And if you are feeling adventurous, you can try to sing or play Jingle Bells yourself, or even create your own version of it. Jingle Bells is a song that belongs to everyone, and you can make it your own. Thank you for reading this article, and we hope you have a merry Christmas and a happy new year!
FAQs
Q: What is the name of the horse in Jingle Bells?
A: The name of the horse in Jingle Bells is Bobtail, according to the second verse of the song:
Jingle bells, jingle bells
Jingle all the way
Oh, what fun it is to ride
In a one-horse open sleigh
Jingle bells, jingle bells
Jingle all the way
Oh, what fun it is to ride
In a one-horse open sleigh
A day or two ago
I thought I'd take a ride
And soon Miss Fanny Bright
Was seated by my side
The horse was lean and lank
Misfortune seemed his lot
He got into a drifted bank
And then we got upsot
Q: What is the difference between jingle bells and sleigh bells?
A: Jingle bells and sleigh bells are both types of bells that are used to decorate sleighs or other vehicles. However, jingle bells are smaller and lighter than sleigh bells, and they produce a higher-pitched sound. Sleigh bells are larger and heavier than jingle bells, and they produce a lower-pitched sound.
Q: How many languages has Jingle Bells been translated into?
A: Jingle Bells has been translated into many languages, including French, German, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Hindi, Arabic, Russian, and more. You can find some of the translations here:
Q: What are some other songs that mention Jingle Bells?
A: Some other songs that mention Jingle Bells are Winter Wonderland (1934), Santa Claus Is Coming to Town (1934), White Christmas (1942), Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree (1958), All I Want for Christmas Is You (1994), Last Christmas (1984), and more.
Q: How can I play Jingle Bells on an instrument?
A: You can play Jingle Bells on various instruments, such as piano, guitar, ukulele, flute, violin, harmonica, and more. You can find some tutorials and sheet music here:
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