Christmas song was the first ever to be played in space – after ‘UFO sighting’

The first song heard in space was a Christmas hit. It was played nine days before Christmas Day in 1965, when two astronauts used instruments to play a classic festive tune after reporting they ‘spotted a UFO’ to Mission Control

‘Tis the season for our favourite jolly Christmas songs to be played on the radio or sung around the Christmas Day table.

Jingle Bells remains universally one of the most popular festive hits. This year, you could bring some surprising knowledge to your family about the beloved song.

The classic tune actually started out as a Thanksgiving melody and was first released in 1875 by James Lord Pierpont in 1875 – the father of John Pierpont Morgan, who went on to start one of the largest financial companies in the world, J.P Morgan. The song was originally called ‘One Horse Open Sleigh’ but changed when it was reproduced in 1859.

If you listen closely to the lyrics there is no mention of Christmas, but it was first performed at a church service on Thanksgiving. The birthplace of Jingle Bells has always remained a puzzle – some argue it originated in Medford, Massachusetts, where Pierpont wrote it while sitting in a tavern watching sleigh races. Other say that this cannot be true; they believe Pierpont was in California at the Gold Rush.

And, did you know that Jingle Bells was the very first song to ever be heard in space? The signature tune was played beyond Earch on December 16, 1965, during Nasa’s Gemini 6A space flight. Astronausts Walter M (Wally) Schirra Jr, and Thomas P played it up in space.

San Francisco’s The Mercury News reports the song was played after the astronauts reported to Mission Control ‘some sort of UFO‘. They said: «We have an object, looks like a satellite going from north to south, probably in polar orbit. Looks like he might be going to re-enter soon. You just might let me pick up that thing I see a command module and eight smaller modules in front. The pilot of the command module is wearing a red suit.»

The next thing heard at Mission Control was a rendition of Jingle Bells performed by the astronauts using instruments which they had smuggled onboard. The harmonica and string of bells used are now housed at The Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum.

The historical moment is believed to be the first time human beings ever played music in outer space, reports Guinness World Records.

Do you have a favourite Christmas song? Share your thoughts in the comments below.