Jingle Bells Memories

AoE Prompt #3: Holiday Songs.

As a child, every year, we had a fancy dress competition at the Ranchi Club, during our Christmas holidays. It was the pride of parents to make a public display of their children in fancy costumes.

My mother was very keen to dress me up in costumes where people would not recognize me.

Once, I was dressed up wearing a tea cosy and cups and handles, another time I was a dancer, and so on. This year my mother said that she would dress me up as Santa and I would be distributing gifts and blowing kisses to all the children and crowd around me.

The moment I heard this, I started crying. In fact, I was howling away. How could my mom think of dressing me up as a man?

I wanted to be Cinderella. Then I would win the prince. He would select me as he would look at me and would have eyes only for me.

This was the effect of the fairy tales, my mom told me and now she wanted me to be Santa which my friend Dicky should become as he was a boy.

My mother and I reached an agreement and I resigned to the fact that moms always think what is best for their kids and I, obediently after some cajoling, agreed, as she promised to give me a gift of my choice for Christmas and New Year.

I loved the year-end gifts and so with such a wonderful promise, considering it a bonus I finally decided, I would become the fat old Santa.

I practised with the song ‘Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way.’ and put on the red dress with loads of small pillows to puff me up. Then she put some makeup on my face. A white beard was stuck on my face. Now, complete with a red cap with a light in it, I was ready.

A toy shop gave us on rent a reindeer and a cart in which one person could sit at the back seat. It also had wheels to move in it.

The fancy dress parade started. I was eleven years old and the competition was for all children between the ages of 9 and 13.

One after the other, children in their beautiful dresses started parading and I felt out of sorts when I saw fairies, Cinderella, Red Riding Hood and so many others in costumes of who I dreamed to be.

Now, it was my turn. My mom switched on the music jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way. I started parading in the cart. I began driving it and in the back seat, there were loads of sweets and small gifts which I kept distributing and blowing flying kisses.

Everybody present over there, all the spectators, competitors, and the guests began to sing the song and tap and dance with the song. Now, I was a star kid! I started acting with a lot of confidence as I heard shouts of this was the best! Just loved it!

All the fairies, Cindrella’s, and others were forgotten. It was a great moment for me. I was called on the stage and crowned for the best participant and dress at the function. There were many gifts with the crown and the sachet. I was speechless.

Till today, every year during the Christmas holidays, I remember the wonderful experience of winning the contest and I begin to hum jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way. It is the best and most lovable song.

The Christmas song that you all know is still my favourite. It was written by James Lord Pierpont and then later it was published into a song, “One Horse Open Sleigh” in 1857. When I saw the prompt on holiday songs with some memories, I just went down memory lane. People often wonder why I like this song so much.

I have put the song below.

Jingle Bells

Dashing through the snow On a one-horse open sleigh O’er the fields we go, Laughing all the way Bells on bob-tail ring, making spirits bright What fun it is to laugh and sing A sleighing song tonight

Oh, jingle bells, jingle bells Jingle all the way Oh, what fun it is to ride In a one-horse open sleigh Jingle bells, jingle bells Jingle all the way Oh, what fun it is to ride In a one-horse open sleigh

The song and music was composed by J Pierpont

The prompt guidelines are given below.

I would like to tag some friends, to put in their experiences or memories of holiday songs Bhavna Narula Carolyn Hastings Caroline de Braganza Lori Lamothe Rochelle Silva Brajendr Kumar Camille Fairbanks