Jingle Bells – Nursery Rhyme For Kids

Christmas cheer fills our hearts with joy every year! And what’s Christmas without carols, like the Jingle Bells rhyme? Written by James Lord Pierpont in the 19th century, the Jingle Bells song is one of the most popular Christmas songs and an English nursery rhyme sung worldwide. The song was believed to be inspired by the sleigh races that were so popular in Massachusetts, USA. But, what we hear most nowadays is only the opening of a beautiful song.  

This delightful jingle has transcended generations, bringing families together to celebrate the festive spirit. Its catchy melody and joyful lyrics have made it a staple of holiday celebrations everywhere. Read on to learn the entire rhyme and immerse yourself in the magic of this beloved jingle bells song nursery rhyme. 

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Jingle Bells Lyrics In English

 The shortest version of the Jingle Bells poem, which is the opening, is apt for kids, while the following verses could be sung by older kids or teens. Read through to choose the verses you want your child to sing.

Dashing through the snow
In a one-horse open sleigh
O’er the fields we go
Laughing all the way
Bells on bob-tail ring
Making spirits bright
What fun it is to ride and sing
A sleighing song tonight! Oh!

Chorus:-

Jingle bells, jingle bells,
Jingle all the way.
Oh! what fun it is to ride
In a one-horse open sleigh. Hey!
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.

|: chorus 😐 

A day or two ago,
The story I must tell
I went out on the snow,
And on my back I fell;
A gent was riding by
In a one-horse open sleigh,
He laughed as there I sprawling lie,
But quickly drove away. Ah!

|: chorus 😐 

Now the ground is white
Go it while you’re young,
Take the girls tonight
and sing this sleighing song;
Just get a bobtailed bay
Two forty as his speed
Hitch him to an open sleigh
And crack! you’ll take the lead.

|: chorus 😐

History and Origin of Jingle Bells Rhyme 

“Jingle Bells,” originally titled “One Horse Open Sleigh,” was composed by James Lord Pierpont in 1857. Contrary to popular belief, it was not intended as a Christmas song; rather, it was first performed during a Thanksgiving service and celebrated the joys of winter sleigh rides. Pierpont, who had moved to Savannah, Georgia, wrote the song while reflecting on the sleigh races he observed in Medford, Massachusetts, where a plaque claims he penned the tune. The song’s catchy refrain and festive imagery eventually led to its association with Christmas, becoming one of the most recognised holiday songs worldwide. 

The Theme of The Jingle Bells Rhyme

You must have already guessed the theme of the song. It’s Christmas!

Rhyming Scheme/Pattern Of The Jingle Bells Rhyme

This song is a treasure of rhymes. Here are some of them:

• Snow – Go
• Sleigh – Way
• Ring – Sing
• Ride – Side
• Lank – Bank
• Lot – Upsot
• Ago – Snow
• Tell – Fell
• By – Lie
• Speed – Lead

Words that Your Child Will Learn From The Jingle Bells Rhyme

Your child can learn ample words through this rhyme, such as

 Sight Words:

• The
• In
• A
• We
• Go
• Way
• Is
• To
• It
• And
• On
• My
• By
• This
• His
• An

Phonic Words:

• Long A Words, e.g., sleigh.
• Digraphs like ‘ay’ and ‘ey’, e.g., way and hey, respectively.
• Consonant Blends like ‘br’ and ‘dr’, e.g., bright and drifted, respectively.

Suggested Activities

This upbeat song can be teamed up for any activity. We’ve recommended some that your child will love to do!

1. Jump And Dance

Put the song on and let your child jump and run and dance as much as they want. They can also clap to the beat and try a new step each time they do this activity.

2. Draw The Sleigh

Give your child a sheet of paper and teach them how to draw a simple sleigh and colour it. If your child is too young, draw it with a pencil and let them fill colours of their choice.

What Will Your Child Learn From The Jingle Bells Rhyme?

The song describes the adventures that Santa Claus sets out on every year. It’s a good song to introduce the winter season, sleighs, and horses to your child. As the verses progress, it turns into a joyful song. Once again, the verses can be picked according to what you think is appropriate for your child. Apart from this, every word your child sings will be credited in their vocabulary bank, and of course, the song is likely to keep them entertained and can also be used to divert their minds or uplift their mood.

Interesting Facts About Jingle Bells Rhymes 

“Jingle Bells” is a well-known song that has become synonymous with Christmas celebrations worldwide. Despite its festive association, it was originally composed as a Thanksgiving song, and the full song lyrics reflect a joyful sleigh ride rather than any holiday theme. 

Here are some fun facts about “Jingle Bells” that young kids will enjoy: 

• “Jingle Bells” was actually written for Thanksgiving, not Christmas! Can you believe it? 
• It was the first song ever played in space! Astronauts sang it while flying high above Earth. 
• Two places in the USA, Medford and Savannah, both say they are where the song was born. Which one do you think is right? 
• The song used to be called “One Horse Open Sleigh.” That’s a pretty long name, isn’t it? 
• There are many versions of “Jingle Bells,” including jazzy and silly ones. You can find a version for every mood! 

FAQs

1. Is there another name for the ‘Jingle Bells’ rhyme?

The rhyme is popularly titled Jingle Bells, but when it was published, it was titled The One Horse Open Sleigh.

2. Who recorded the ‘Jingle Bells’ rhyme for the first time?

It’s said that Will Lyle recorded the song for the first time ever in 1889, but the recording or its copies are not known to exist. The surviving recordings were made by the Edison Male Quartette and the Hayden Quartet in the late 19^th century and early 20^th century, respectively.

Don’t forget to sing the poem along with your child. Repeat the verses as many times as you want, and have fun jamming with your little one!

Also Read:

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star Rhyme
Humpty Dumpty Nursery Rhyme
See the Moon and the Moon Sees Me