Happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear -----------, happy birthday to you.

Chances are that you have heard this song on your birthday every year of your life. The Guinness Book of World Records states that the song "Happy Birthday" is one of the three most popular songs in the English language. It all began right here in Kentucky. The catchy, jolly jingle was written by sisters Mildren J. Hill and Patty S. Hill in 1893. They were kindergarten and music teachers in Louisville, KY. The Hill's believed in a revolutionary idea for teaching young children . They thought that children should be educated in an environment that stimulated their creativity and openness. In their kindergarten classes, they used music, poetry, stories and plays to instruct young children. In particular, they believed that young children learned best through songs. Originally, the song was entitled "Good Morning to All". As the children arrived at school each morning, they were greeted by the Hill sisters singing this song. The tune was first copyrighted in a book called "Song Stories for the Kindergarten." Eventually, the song was copyrighted in 1935 with the "Happy Birthday" lyrics.

Patty Hill went on to become a very influential educator. Her ideas made her a controversial person of her time. But the uniqueness of her ideas drew attention from around the world. Several important educators came to Louisville to learn from her teaching methods. In 1900 Hill spoke before the Louisville Education Association on "Education Through Play". By the end of that year, nine Louisville public schools were offering kindergarten programs.

Patty Hill left Louisville in 1905 to study at Columbia University in New York. While in New York she worked at the Speyer School Experimental Playroom. By 1929, her visionary efforts were rewarded by an honorary doctor of letters degree for her dedication as head of the Kindergarten Association.

 Source:

Kleber, John E. The Kentucky Encyclopedia, Lexington: The University Press of Kentucky1992.