The mystery and surprising history behind 'Jingle Bells'

A simple song has been making the Yuletide merrier for 161 Decembers. First published under the title “One Horse Open Sleigh,” you and I know it as “Jingle Bells.” But a mystery surrounds this beloved Christmas tune. Where was it written? Two cities some 1,000 miles apart, one north and one south, each claim to be its birthplace.

Much of “Jingle Bells’” enduring appeal is its peppy simplicity. Its words and music are easy, making it the holiday song many children learn first.