Jingle Bells was written by James Lord Pierpont and published in 1857 under the title The One Horse Open Sleigh. Although now strongly associated with Christmas, it began as a popular sleighing song in the United States and gradually became a standard part of holiday music worldwide. Its simple, repetitive chorus made it easy to learn, record and share across generations. The original song version remains widely performed by choirs, bands and solo singers, and its melody is instantly linked to winter celebrations.