Actually, Amos, when was the last time anyone in San Diego went dashing through the snow in a one-horse open sleigh at any time of year?  For that matter, aren't sleighs in the US kind of relegated to theme parks now, no matter what part of the country you live in?  (In Alaska, it would be a dog sled.)

No, "Jingle Bells" was written at a time when people used sleighs for normal winter transport and fun.  Someone told me, in fact, that it was not associated with Christmas until a few decades ago (though the original song is from about 1850).

When I lived in Urbana-Champagne, Illinois, though, I could've used a one-horse sleigh in January!

Genie