❄️‘Winter Wonderland’ A Song Born in Snow & Struggle “From a Tuberculosis Ward to a Holiday Classic!
- larees24
- Dec 22, 2025
- 2 min read
Updated: Dec 22, 2025
🎄 Welcome, to ‘Christmas around the Piano’…a nostalgic musical journey!🎄
Day 22 - December 22, 2025:
From its romantic origins to the later children’s version that transformed it into a festive favorite, the snowy magic of “Winter Wonderland”, has made it one of the most beloved winter songs of all time.
Written in 1934 by Richard B. Smith while he was being treated for tuberculosis, this timeless classic was inspired by the snowy landscapes of Honesdale, Pennsylvania.
“Winter Wonderland” was written in 1934 by composer Felix Bernard and lyricist Richard Bernhard Smith. Smith wrote the lyrics while being treated for tuberculosis at the West Mountain Sanitarium in Honesdale, Pennsylvania. He often entered jingle contests to pass the time, and the snowy view from the sanitarium inspired the poem that became the song.
It was first recorded by Richard Himber and his Hotel Ritz-Carlton Orchestra in 1934, and quickly became a seasonal hit.
The original lyrics describe a romantic winter scene — a couple strolling through the snow, imagining a playful wedding with a snowman “Parson Brown”.
In 1947, a new “children’s lyric” was published, shifting the focus from romance to playful snowy fun, which is the version most people know today.
Though not explicitly a Christmas song, it became a holiday staple because of its winter imagery.
Quick Facts!
❄️Richard Smith wrote the lyrics while battling tuberculosis, inspired by watching children play in the snow outside the sanitarium.
❄️The snowman “Parson Brown” refers to a traveling preacher who could perform weddings — a playful metaphor for young love.
❄️The song was originally not intended as a Christmas song; it’s simply about winter romance.
❄️The children’s version replaced Parson Brown with a circus clown, making it more kid-friendly.
❄️The song’s enduring popularity helped cement the idea of a “winter wonderland” as a cultural aesthetic, synonymous with festive décor and snowy holiday scenes.
❄️It remains one of the most recorded winter songs in history, with versions in jazz, pop, big band, country, and classical styles
I do hope you have enjoyed reading about this carol, as much as I have enjoyed presenting this to you.
Thank you for joining me on this festive journey! Wishing you and your loved ones, a season filled with light, laughter, love, and of course, MUSIC! 🌟🎄
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Christmas cheer and good tidings to you!
Larissa
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