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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Community Comment

The Bells of Christmas

“Jingle Bells”, “Silver Bells”, “Christmas Bells are Ringing”, everywhere bells.
Bells can be seen in every aspect of Christmas from poems, quotes, songs and decorations.

Believe it or not “Jingle Bells”, one of the most famous American Christmas songs, was originally written for Thanksgiving! The author and composer of Jingle Bells was a minister called James Pierpoint who composed the song in 1857 for children celebrating his Boston Sunday School Thanksgiving. The song was so popular that it was repeated at Christmas, and indeed Jingle Bells has been played ever since. The essence of a traditional Christmas is captured in the lyrics of Jingle Bells and the sound effects using the bells have become synonymous with the arrival of Father Christmas or Santa Claus to the delight of children of all ages!



Spokesman-Review readers blog about news and issues in Spokane written by Dave Laird.