James Lord Pierpont (1822-1893) wrote the song in 1857. It was originally called “One Horse Open Sleigh” and was made for Thanksgiving program at a church in Savannah, Georgia where Pierpont was organist.

The song was so well accepted that it was again sung on Christmas day and since then became one of the most popular Christmas carols.

On December 16, 1965, astronauts aboard Gemini 6, Wally Schirra and Tom Stafford, played a prank on Mission Control. They said they saw some kind of UFO stating that the pilot was "wearing a red suit." They then played "Jingle Bells" on a harmonica (Hohner's Little Lady model) backed by sleigh bells. Both instruments are now on display at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum and considered the first musical instruments played in space.