Jingle Bells not Allowed? Bah, Humbug!

  • Jingle Bells, not allowed? Bah, humbug! I say NO! Let it snow! Let’s all have the opportunity to enjoy this song about snow and a horse drawn sleigh! Jingle Bells is a wonderful sleigh song written by James Lord Pierpont (1822–1893) and published under the title "One Horse Open Sleigh" in the autumn of 1857. It was written as a winter song, inspired by the annual one horse open sleigh races in Massachusetts, on Salem and Pleasant Streets between Medford Square and Malden Square. Others say it was actually written to be sung for Thanksgiving and became popular at parties, people would jingle the ice in their glasses as they sang.

    Over the past several years, I or one of my teachers have been told by one of our schools (we teach at many different schools, preschool and elementary) that they don’t “do” Jingle Bells since it’s a Christmas song. I think this is something we need to change!Why wouldn’t this song about a fun ride through the snow be one to be enjoyed by ALL populations, all settings, all winter long? I deliberately put it in lessons in January/February, explaining this is one of our favorite snow songs. Jingle Bells is for all schools, Jewish, Montessori, Christian, Public, etc. I hope we can enjoy this song all winter long without being told not to sing it because Christmas is not allowed! Maybe they think there’s a Christmas tree or a Santa on the Sleigh? I show the picture of my family with a horse and sleigh on a winter trip to show the meaning of the lyrics.

    Here's many of my favorite activities to do with this song and many other songs using jingle bells, early childhood and elementary ages.

    Here's Jingle Bell options for several different age groups:

    Toddlers, Preschool, PreK and Kindergarten:    Shake Those Bells    Cocoa the horse presenting bell songs

    Grade 1 - 3  Jingle Bell Dance

    Grade 3 - 5 Jingle Bell Passing Game

    Recorder Workshop Teaching Jingle Bells     Recorder Jingle Bell Hand out and very fun SMARTBoard visuals

    Also in Music Box Downloads:

    Sleigh Ride Visuals

     

     

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