Sleigh Rides During the Museum of Lights
The Kindersley Museum is holding their Museum of Lights in December, and yes—the horse-drawn sleigh rides will be back on Saturdays (walk thru nights on Saturdays will include sleigh rides, hot chocolate, snacks, and more.)! If you’ve ever hopped onto a horse-drawn sleigh, you know how much fun they are, but have you ever stopped to wonder where this tradition began?
Horse-drawn sleigh rides have become a part of winter, invoking images of jingling bells, snow-covered trails, and fuzzy blankets but while we associate them with the holidays, their origins were much more practical.
In areas covered by heavy snowfall, particularly in Europe, Russia, and North America, sleighs were an important part of life. Before plowed roads and snow tires, horse-drawn vehicles with metal runners were the only way to move people and goods across icy terrain. The bells associated with the holidays actually served a safety purpose, alerting others to an oncoming sleigh. Over time, their jingle bells became intertwined with the magic of Christmas.
By the 19th century, sleigh rides evolved from a practical mode of transport into a holiday activity. Families and communities turned them into opportunities for fun, especially around Christmas. Horses were decorated with ribbons and bells, and passengers bundled up under thick blankets for evening rides.
Victorian culture played a big role in romanticizing sleigh rides. During this era, traditions like caroling and gift-giving grew in popularity, and sleigh rides naturally joined in. They appeared on holiday postcards and in seasonal literature, often as idyllic images of couples or families enjoying the snow. Songs like Jingle Bells, written in 1857, further cemented the connection. Though the song wasn’t originally about Christmas, it became an instant holiday favorite.
As some may remember, rural areas brought their own special touch to the tradition. Sometimes communities would gather for nighttime sleigh rides by lanterns, often followed by drinks, tasty food, and good music. These get togethers weren’t just about the ride itself—they were about being together and even as modern transportation took over, sleigh rides have been kept alive thanks to tradition.
Sources:
- Network Land: “One Horse Open Sleigh: A History of Jingle Bells”
- Bethel Grapevine: “Dashing Through the Snow”
- Horse Illustrated: “Sleigh Rides Through the Ages”
Google Play and the Google Play logo are trademarks of Google LLC.
