Mitte des 19. Jahrhunderts komponierte der US-Amerikaner James Lord Pierpont das Winterlied „Jingle Bells“, das zu einem weltweit populären Weihnachtslied avancierte. Das Lied berichtet über ein Pferdeschlittenrennen, ohne Weihnachten wörtlich zu erwähnen. Die Melodie wurde seither an einigen Stellen vereinfacht, der Text leicht modifiziert. Dies ist die aktuelle Version:
(1) Dashing through the snow in a one-horse open sleigh,
O’er the fields we go, laughing all the way.
Bells on bobtail ring, making spirits bright,
What fun it is to ride and sing a sleighing song tonight.
– Refrain: Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way.
O, what fun it is to ride in a one-horse open sleigh. –
(2) A day or two ago I thought I’d take a ride,
And soon Miss Fannie Bright was seated by my side.
The horse was lean and lank, misfortune seemed his lot,
He got into a drifted bank and we got upsot.
– Refrain –
(3) 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.
– Refrain –
(4) 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 for his speed,
Then hitch him to an open sleigh, and crack! You’ll take the lead.
– Refrain –