You need to know these 8 things about the song Jingle Bells

Jingle Bells, undoubtedly, is the most famous Christmas work in the whole world. However, in fact, this song is not so simple and unambiguous as it may seem. This work was written by the composer-rebel, and the lyrics have some racist connotation, which is directly related to the views and beliefs of the creator of the text. And this is not all inconsistent and even slightly shocking information. Below you will find interesting data concerning this song, and every fact will make you look differently at this fun festive work.

The song was written by John Pierpont's uncle Morgan

Lord James Pierpont was born in 1822. He is the author of the melody and lyrics of the song. His older sister married a millionaire Spencer Morgan, and their eldest son, John Pierpont Morgan, followed in the footsteps of his father and became one of the most famous entrepreneurs, bankers and financiers of his time. He was known all over the world as a successful businessman and philanthropist.

Pierpont was not a family man

The author of the song was the son of a minister, an ardent abolitionist and defender of slave rights. At the age of fourteen, James escaped from a private school where he studied at that time, and joined the crew of the whaler. He spent almost ten years in the sea. During the gold rush, James Pierpont threw his wife and children and recovered to California in search of wealth. Home he returned only seven years later, without earning anything. A few years later, he again abandoned his family and became an organist in a church in Georgia, where his brother was a priest. A few months after the death of his wife, James Pierpont married the daughter of a local mayor, leaving his children from their first marriage in the care of their grandfather.

The song Jingle Bells can be called rebellious in many meanings

While James's father and brother were ardent supporters of abolitionism and fought for the abolition of slavery in the United States, he, on the contrary, supported the Confederation. During the Civil War, his father and brother moved to the north of the country, where they defended their position. James stayed in the south and wrote hymns and songs for the Confederation. After the war, he also stayed in the south, in the state of Georgia, and lived his last years here.

Jingle Bells was not the original song title

When the song was first published by the publishing house in Boston in 1857, its name was different - One Horse Open Sleigh. After the re-release two years later, the song appeared under the well-known name.

Two cities claim to be the birthplace of the work

Historical data of the Boston archive in Massachusetts state that it was here that James wrote his song when he drank drinks at a local tavern in 1850. This fact is doubtful, because it is strange that the author waited seven years to print his work. Moreover, at that time he most likely was in California in search of gold. On the other hand, James lived in a small town in the south of the country in the state of Georgia, where he was an organist, so chances are high that it was here that this work was written. There is also evidence that in the summer of 1857, James was on a brief visit to Boston and it was here, while in his rented apartment, he composed this magapolar song. The data are still controversial. The only thing the opinions of historians agree on is that the sleigh races were the author's memories of his time in Massachusetts, not in California or in any other state.

The work was not intended as a Christmas song

Despite the fact that now the song Jingle Bells is the most famous worldwide Christmas music, the text does not mention Christmas itself, nor any other holiday. There are historical data that for the first time this song was heard in the church where James played on the organ, during the celebration of Thanksgiving. This parishioners did not like this work very much, because it mentioned races on the sleigh, screams and laughter, as well as girls who could be picked up on the road and rolled on sleighs. The text of the song itself indicates that the work is far from other church hymns or Christmas songs, with their calmer melodies and religious texts.

Perhaps the song was first introduced in the style of blackface

In the 19th century, the stage style of blackface performance was popular. This is a kind of makeup that some comedians used on their shows. The bottom line was that a person with white skin used a special black face paint to look like a black person. This direction was part of American pop culture until the middle of the 20th century, until protests and demonstrations for the rights of black Americans began.

After this song was first published in 1857, it was dedicated to John Ordway, a Boston doctor, composer and organizer of a group of white men who gave their performances in the style of Blackfaced. James Pierpont wrote many songs for the members of this group, which they successfully performed, so there are great chances that this work was also performed in such a racist style. This is indicated by another historical fact: a check was found about the payment for the services of the group in one entertainment institution in September 1857. The attached list of songs at the same time featured One Horse Open Sleigh, which the troupe of musicians most likely performed that evening for the guests of the establishment.

Jingle Bells is the first song that was broadcast from space

Nine days before Christmas in 1965, two astronauts aboard the Gemini 6 staged a small concert in space, using some musical instruments and bells that they took with them to the ship specifically for this purpose. Thus, this song is officially the first work that was lost in space with broadcast to Earth.

Summary

The song Jingle Bells is undoubtedly the most famous Christmas song in the whole world. For many people, this work is associated with winter holidays, gifts and Christmas miracles. Despite this, this work has a controversial history of its creation. The composer and author of the words of this song was a man who defended slavery in the US, and also supported racist performances popular in that period of time. James Pierpont also can not be called a family man, since he spent most of his life in different places and at the same time he practically did not care about his wife or children.

Despite this, this song became part of the global culture and firmly entrenched in it. This is indicated by the fact that it was this work that was first played in space, while the popularity of the song for these decades not only did not fall, but, conversely, the age.