One of the most popular songs heard during the Christmas season began not for that holiday but as a song with this title, "The One Horse Open Sleigh" (original sheet music cover shown above, first published in 1857 by Oliver Ditson in Boston). It was written as a comical song and used in minstrel shows at that time. "Jingle Bells" was written by Medford Massachusetts resident James Pierpont in 1850, inspired by the annual one-horse open-sleigh races on Salem and Pleasant Streets between Medford Square and Malden Square. The lyrics start like this: Dashing thro' the snow, In a one horse open sleigh, O'er the hills we go, Laughing all the way; Bells on bob-tail ring, Making spirits bright, Oh what sport to ride and sing A sleighing song tonight.

Source: American Music Preservation