When happily knocking out a tuneless rendition of “jingle bells”, it’s important to distinguish between the historical use of slave collars with bells and the popular Christmas song.
During the era of slavery in the United States, slave owners used various cruel and humiliating methods to deter enslaved individuals from attempting to escape. One such method involved the use of slave collars with bells. These collars were designed to alert owners and slave patrols if an enslaved person tried to run away, especially at night. The bells made it easier for dogs and patrols to track down the escapees, making it nearly impossible for them to escape undetected.
The Misconception About “Jingle Bells”
There is a common misconception that the song “Jingle Bells” is connected to the use of these slave collars with bells. However, this claim is not supported by historical evidence. The song “Jingle Bells,” written by James L. Pierpont in the mid-1800s, was originally titled “One Horse Open Sleigh” and was performed in a minstrel show in Boston. It has no direct connection to the practice of using bells on slave collars to deter escape attempts.
It’s crucial to teach children the truth about historical events, rather than perpetuating myths or fairy tales. The use of slave collars with bells is a grim reminder of the brutal treatment of enslaved people and the lengths to which slave owners went to maintain control.
