Jingle Bells And It's Thanksgiving Story

Did you know that the song, Jingle Bells, was originally written for Thanksgiving? In fact, if you listen to the lyrics carefully, you can see there are lots of references to fun and snow and celebration – but none to Christmas. Once you hear the story behind the song you’ll understand why.

The song was written by an American minister named James Lord Pierpont in 1850. His original title was “One Horse Open Sleigh”. Pierpont had written the song for a Thanksgiving service, however it became such a favorite that his congregation insisted he perform it again at Christmas. From that time forward, the song grew more and more widely known and was commonly associated with Christmas.

What’s the story behind the lyrics? The song was written in the Simpson Tavern in Medford, Massachusetts and the lyrics published in 1857 are a bit different then the ones heard today. The older lyrics talk more about sled races and sleigh riding as it occurred in that area – a popular pastime especially for young people who were courting. No one knows for sure who replaced the original words with the new ones, but the ones heard here are the current version.

Since this merry tune is one of those songs heard and loved across the globe, I decided to pair it with holiday greetings from around the world. So here’s wishing you a merry Thanksgiving and a very happy series of winter holidays!

Can you hear those jingle bells now?