As the holiday season comes upon us, there are a lot of postcards, movies and iconic pictures of Santa in his sleigh, people cuddled up in an open sleigh being pulled by horses, sleds and snowfights with kids and more. Back in the day, everyone used sleighs for winter travel, not just Santa Claus.
The image of horses pulling sleighs through the snow with the familiar sound of jingle bells is more than just a charming scene-it’s a nod to a rich historical tradition. Whether you experience a real sleigh ride this year or simply hear the jingle bells in your favorite holiday songs, remember the important role these animals played in winter travel.
A sled, skid, sledge, or sleigh, is a land vehicle that slides across a surface, usually of ice or snow. It is built with either a smooth underside or a separate body supported by two or more smooth, relatively narrow, longitudinal runners similar in principle to skis. Some designs are used to transport passengers or cargo across relatively level ground. Others are designed to go downhill for recreation, particularly by children, or competition.
In American usage sled remains the general term but often implies a smaller device, often for recreational use. Sledge implies a heavier sled used for moving freight or massive objects.
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Ancient Origins and Uses
The ancient Egyptians were some of the first people to have recorded using such a vehicle in history. The Vikings also favored sleds and sledges, and many have been found in the excavation of their remains by archeologists. The British, known to be world travelers, especially in the 19th century, utilized sled dogs and sledges, often times man-hauled as well over thick tundra.
Sleds and sledges were found in the Oseberg "Viking" ship excavation. Until the late 19th century, a closed winter sled, or vozok, provided a high-speed means of transport through the snow-covered plains of European Russia and Siberia. It was a means of transport preferred by royals, bishops, and boyars of Muscovy.
Man-hauled sledges were the traditional means of transport on British exploring expeditions to the Arctic and Antarctic regions in the 19th and early 20th centuries, championed for example by Captain Scott. In the Philippines, a traditional carabao-drawn sled is known as the kangga.
Sleighs are able to traverse snow-covered fields and icy lakes and rivers, Willaert said. They’re also able to haul goods.
Sleds are especially useful in winter but can also be drawn over wet fields, muddy roads, and even hard ground if one helps them along by greasing the blades ("grease the skids") with oil or alternatively wetting them with water. For an explanation of why sleds and other objects glide with various degrees of friction ranging from very little to fairly little friction on ice, icy snow, wet snow, and dry snow, see the relevant sections in the articles on ice and ice skating.
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The Cutter Sleigh and Sleigh Racing
A cutter is an open, lightweight, horse-drawn sleigh that usually holds no more than two people. It was developed in the United States around 1800.
In the 19th century, harness racing was extremely popular in towns throughout New England. During the winter months sled racing took hold as a favorite recreational pursuit. Straight roads covered in packed snow made for excellent racing lanes, and horsemen hitched their finest trotters for organized and spontaneous races, much to the excitement of onlookers. Local newspapers from the 1800s and early 1900s included the latest sleigh racing reports, dutifully describing the race conditions, cataloguing the winners, and analyzing the breeding of the best horses. For many, sleigh racing was a cold-weather pastime as beloved as sledding, skiing, or making snowmen.
Sleigh drivers raced their chariots through pine trees. Dinner and dancing were often a part of a sleigh rally, Willaert said, and there was courtship. “When you cross the bridge in the sleigh, you would exact a toll (a kiss) from the young lady,” Willaert said. “Now, sometimes in small towns, very few bridges could be an issue.
As for sleigh racing, it waned in popularity with each passing year after the introduction of the automobile. Yet to this day, the delight of riding in a horse-drawn sleigh lifts the spirits of any lucky enough to sit behind the reins. For years to come, sleigh rides will remain an idyllic way to enjoy the wintry countryside, savor the brisk open air, and experience horsepower in its truest form.
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The Purpose of Jingle Bells
While today we associate the sound of jingle bells with holiday cheer, their original purpose was far more practical. Jingle bells, often attached to the harness or reins of a horse, served several important functions in historical sleighing.
In the days when horse-drawn sleighs were a primary mode of winter transport, roads were often snow-covered, muffling the sound of hooves and wheels. The jingle bells acted as an early warning system, letting pedestrians and other travelers know that a sleigh was approaching. This was especially crucial in areas where visibility was reduced, or on narrow roads where collisions were a real risk.
In heavy snow or fog, visibility could be extremely poor. The sound of jingle bells helped people locate the sleigh or anticipate its arrival, much like modern-day car horns or sirens.
The jingling bells now forever remembered in Pierpont’s catchy chorus describe the bells that lined leather harnesses or sleigh shafts of the time. It was custom-and in some cases local law-to drive with bells as a precautionary measure. Sled runners glided smoothly over the ground and snow muffled the sounds of horses’ hooves, making horse-drawn sleighs a nearly silent form of transportation. As such, clinking bells helped drivers avoid collisions at intersections and alerted passersby to a sled’s approach.
Over time, the jingle of the bells became associated with the joy of the season, as sleigh rides were often linked to celebrations, holidays, and gatherings. The cheerful sound became synonymous with winter festivity and nostalgia.
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"Jingle Bells": A Sleigh Song
Perhaps no sound signals the winter holiday season in America more than a spirited rendition of the song “Jingle Bells.” This joyful wintertime tune-originally published in 1857 as “One Horse Open Sleigh” by James Pierpont-captures a bygone America in which horses served a central role in everyday life. The song evokes in our imaginations what was once a common sight when snow turned the countryside white: horsemen changed out their wheeled sulkies for sleds, and horse-drawn sleighs ruled the roads.
It is unclear in the history books where Pierpont was when he wrote “Jingle Bells”; Both Medford, MA and Savannah, GA lay claim to the honor. Regardless, his inspiration for the piece was undoubtedly the horse-drawn sleigh racing he encountered in his birth-state of Massachusetts. According to a community plaque posted by the Medford Historical Society, Pierpont’s song “tells of the sleigh races held on Salem streets in the early 1800s.”
For many years, “Jingle Bells” was regarded as not much more than a “sleigh song” typical of the time, a genre which was popular with youth. The song’s merry cadence parallels the balanced hoof-fall of a trotting horse. Sleigh-riders could sing in time with the beat of their horse’s hooves, and share a laugh over the youthful antics described in the lesser-known final verses of the song.
Though it took years after its debut for “Jingle Bells” to infiltrate mainstream culture, today it is one of the most widely recognized songs in existence. It boasts numerous appearances at the top of music charts and has been recorded by hundreds of artists over many decades. Pierpont’s winter ditty was first conceptualized as a Christmas hit in the 1940s thanks to Bing Crosby and The Andrews Sisters’ celebrated recording. The song is now a holiday classic sung around the world.
The Horses Behind the Tradition
Today, draft horses and other strong, cold-weather breeds like Percherons, Clydesdales, and Norwegian Fjords are often used for pulling sleighs. These horses, known for their gentle temperaments and impressive strength, can pull heavy sleighs filled with riders over snowy landscapes with ease.
Their powerful build, combined with their endurance, makes them well-suited to the physical demands of pulling sleighs. Their calm demeanor also helps create a safe and enjoyable experience for riders.
Many of these sleigh-pulling horses enjoy their work, as they’re naturally inclined toward pulling and working in teams, much like their ancestors did in historical sleighing traditions.
The Tradition Continues
Though we no longer rely on horses and sleighs for winter travel, sleigh rides remain a popular activity during the holiday season, especially in snowy regions. Many farms, resorts, and stables offer horse-drawn sleigh rides as a fun, festive way for families to experience a piece of history while celebrating the magic of the season.
Horses are still adorned with jingle bells during these rides, preserving the connection to their historical roots while enhancing the holiday experience. Whether it’s a quiet ride through a snow-covered forest or a joyful event filled with laughter and music, the tradition of horse-drawn sleigh rides continues to evoke a sense of wonder and nostalgia for simpler times.
| Horse Breed | Characteristics | Common Use |
|---|---|---|
| Percheron | Strong, gentle temperament | Pulling heavy sleighs with passengers |
| Clydesdale | Powerful build, endurance | Sleigh rides and winter transport |
| Norwegian Fjord | Strong, cold-weather breed | Working in teams, pulling sleighs |