laughing all the way
bells on bob-tail ring
making spirits bright
2006-12-13 17:06:50 · 13 answers · asked by bluestocking 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Holidays ➔ Christmas
bobtail was the horses name in jingle bells.
2006-12-13 17:08:42 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 12⤋
Here is my educated gueese. The horse that was sleighing had a cut tail that's why it is called bobbed tail, and in it tied were small bells (just the size of the ones hung in a deco christmas tree at home during christmas season.). while the horse ran the bells make sounds and the riders were laughing. In other words it's just a joy riding for a merry making , while dashing thru the snow..
2014-06-20 08:06:47 · answer #2 · answered by rodcah 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
In Chicago during Christmas, the horses pulling coaches have their manes and tail done up- braids or just bound in sections, decorated with bells. Hence, a bobtail style with bells.
I like Rani's story of Round John Virgin; reminds me of Hark the Herald- "God must like the name Harold- A lot of angels were named that back then"
2006-12-13 18:44:48 · answer #3 · answered by Flea© 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
This Site Might Help You.
RE:
what is a "bobtail ring"?
laughing all the way
bells on bob-tail ring
making spirits bright
2015-08-05 21:21:57 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Bells on bobtails makes no sense. Wouldn't they be bobbed tails? I always thought the horse was named bob and it was his tail ringing. Bells on Bobs Tail Ring.
2013-12-23 13:17:23 · answer #5 · answered by TNT 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Isn't it the bells that hang down the back of the horses tails while pulling the sleds so that people's spirits are made bright by the sound of it and laughing all the way over the river and thru the snow to Grandmothers house?!?! :)
2006-12-13 18:04:37 · answer #6 · answered by ballerinagirl 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
The song is about going sleighing. The sleighs are pulled by horses wearing sleigh bells. (Actually, by one horse. That's what makes it a 'one horse, open sleigh.) It was the fashion at the time to 'bob' the tails of the horses - that is, cut them short. The line actually reads "Bells on bob tails ring'. Thankfully, people realized that bobbing tails was cruel, because horses need their tails to swish flies, and they stopped doing it.
So, both the previous answers are completely wrong. And "making spirits bright" just means that everyone feels uplifted (their spirit is made bright) by hearing sleigh bells.
Also, sleigh bells weren't worn on the tail. They're on a thick strap that I believe was strapped onto the harness.
2006-12-13 17:11:15 · answer #7 · answered by jane7 4 · 20⤊ 1⤋
Jane7 is right! The horses tail was cut short, or tied up so as to be short, and had bells on it! Cruel, but it used to be done.
2006-12-13 18:40:25 · answer #8 · answered by riversconfluence 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
It's bobtails. Bells on bobtails ring. I think they are talking about the horses having cropped tails and wearing bells for the holiday.
2006-12-13 17:20:12 · answer #9 · answered by The Real Deal 2 · 4⤊ 2⤋
Yes, the horse had a 'bobbed tail' (cut shorter), and the bells were on the horse (he was a 'bobbed-tail')-----
2013-12-01 08:32:41 · answer #10 · answered by Plb 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Maybe there referring to the tail of the...horse?...bobbing up and down while a bell is attached to it.
So it'd be like, The tail's got a bell on it, and it's bobbing up and down as it trots making a ringing noise......
Making spirits bright?
2006-12-13 17:10:17 · answer #11 · answered by Lord of the Apocalypse 3 · 1⤊ 4⤋