During the festive season, the melody of Jingle Bells is a familiar sound to most.
However, many may be surprised to learn it was never intended as a Christmas song. A video by Daily Dose of Music on TikTok revealed the song has no connection to Santa Claus.
In the clip, the content creator shared: “Did you know Jingle Bells was originally a Thanksgiving song? Imagine celebrating Thanksgiving dashing through the snow.
“This timeless tune was penned by James Lord Pierpont in 1857, titled ‘One Horse Open Sleigh’. But why the switch to Christmas? Over the years, the melody evolved into a Christmas classic. Isn’t it fascinating how traditions shift?”
Essentially, the song was initially meant for Thanksgiving, but gained popularity during the Christmas season, leading to its renaming as “Jingle Bells”. Interestingly, on December 16, 1965, it became the first song ever played in outer space.
The crew of Gemini 6 performed the song using bells and a harmonica they had smuggled onboard their spacecraft. So, while we all hum along to this tune during the holiday season, it’s worth remembering it carries more significance than we might think. It’s a small song with a big history.
Nevertheless, the tale behind it has left many astonished. On Reddit, people can’t stop discussing its fascinating evolution into a festive staple.
One user expressed disbelief, saying: “It’s odd how anything even vaguely wintery inevitably becomes a Christmas thing. I’ll bet it’s particularly odd for people living in the Southern Hemisphere.”
Another wrote: “Huh? I thought that Jingle Bells was a Christmas song until I realised that it was initially a Thanksgiving Day song.”
A third chimed in with: “Back in the old days when Thanksgiving was a different holiday than Xmas.”
Meanwhile, another offered a different view, writing: “I’ve been saying for decades that it’s not specifically a Christmas song. It’s a winter song – no mention of Christmas in it.”