2006-12-02 10:12:24 · 24 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Holidays ➔ Christmas
it only does if you are dashing through the snow.
2006-12-02 10:14:06 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Umm - that's one horse open sleigh - the way you've spelled it suggests killing the horse, and I don't think that's what they had in mind.
Christmas is also about visiting family and friends - and when there is snow on the ground, few things are as much fun as a sleigh. You need the bells, because a sleigh moves so quietly, it can run over you before you know it's around.
Most people don't know any verse but the first - in the second verse of the song, it talks about hitting a snow bank and getting upset. Turned over. Since a one-horse sleigh was of necessity small (one horse can only pull so much) it was perfect for a young man and a young lady to go out together with no one else around. And you have to snuggle together to stay warm in an open sleigh.
You can also,by the way, hitch a reindeer to a sleigh. They're not as good as a horse, but it looks wonderful.
2006-12-02 10:30:49 · answer #2 · answered by Uncle John 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Christmas is NOT (ideally) about reindeer and Father Christmas, but about "Jesus, the Christ"!
As to the other answers - a one-horse, open, SLEIGH could not take too much in the way of people and presents. The song relates to the season, not Santa Claus. It is a time for fun with the family, friends, etc. When there were no cars and it was snowing, you used a sleigh, not a carriage, when travelling to visit others.
And, as one other person mentioned, a sleigh like that was ideal for a couple to get away without 'chaperones' and snuggle together to keep warm and maybe - OOPS, "Xmas" isn't a "XXX" time!
2006-12-06 10:10:02 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Wow! I'd like to see one open horse slay something! Maybe an orc, that could be interesting. One horse open sleighs, however, were used quite commonly as transport in the winter months as the song is more about winter than Christmas.
Oh, and try reading somewhere to find out about what Christmas is about, it's very naive of you to think that Christmas is about Father Christmas and Reindeer!!
2006-12-02 10:17:22 · answer #4 · answered by mad_caesar 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The "Jingle Bells" song refers to a family in the 1800's in a wintry climate who are travelling through the snow to a Christmas celebration. They are riding in a sleigh pulled by one horse. That is because it is easy for a horse to pull them over a snowy and icy terrain.
The bells are the the bells attached to the reins which are used by the driver to steer the horse. "Bells on bobtail ring" refers to bells attached to the horse's short tail.
Here is something you'll find amusing: when I was in grade school I learned (then forgot!) a song titled "Santa's Using Zebras Now". The premise is that when Santa visits Africa, there is no snow in most places, and it is too hot for the reindeer, so he uses zebras.
BTW---reindeer do exist; they just don't fly.
2006-12-02 10:42:51 · answer #5 · answered by Rex Rhino 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because it is santa who rides the sleigh with the reindeer. There aren't any reindeer here hence we have to make do with horses.
The song is not mentioning santa at all, it's mentioning bells and it doesn't even mention Christmas. Technically it's just a winter song.
Perhaps there is a Finnish or Norwegian song which goes "on a one reindeer sleigh" because they have them there.
2006-12-02 10:23:51 · answer #6 · answered by Carrie S 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The "One Horse Open Slay" is actually a corruption of the late 18th and early 19th century tradition called the "Open One Horse Slay," in which gaily dressed ladies and gentlemen--no restrictions-- would bring guns to the town square, where they would all simultaneously open fire on a single horse, thereby celebrating the season by spattering the town with horse guts.
Good question!
2006-12-02 10:19:14 · answer #7 · answered by Patrick C 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The people are on a one horse open sleigh singing songs. Thats a Connecticut Christmas thing. Christmas is a frame of mind. You get it or you dont.
2006-12-02 10:21:44 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
I figure that stems from before cars when people would pack up the sleigh with gifts and food and head on over to family or friends to celebrate Christmas!
2006-12-02 10:23:25 · answer #9 · answered by Rosey 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
sleigh. People ride in them over the snow and pulled by a horse or horses. The reindeer pulled a sleigh with santa in it.
2006-12-02 10:15:29 · answer #10 · answered by † PRAY † 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
have you tried to use reindeers and a sleigh difficult a horse is much easier and st nick used a horse not reindeers
2006-12-02 10:15:55 · answer #11 · answered by julie t 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋