Parson Brown is a fictional character from the Christmas song "Winter Wonderland."
Song Context
The lyric appears in the line: "In the meadow we can build a snowman, and pretend that he is Parson Brown. He'll say, 'Are you married?' We'll say, 'No man, but you can do the job when you're in town.'"
"Winter Wonderland," written in 1934 by Felix Bernard and Richard B. Smith, uses this playful imagery of a snowman as a stand-in minister for a wedding.
A "parson" refers to a Protestant or Anglican priest, often one who traveled to perform marriages in rural areas during that era.
Historical Background
No evidence points to a real historical figure named Parson Brown tied to the song; it's likely a generic, rhyming name like "John Doe."
Smith wrote the lyrics while quarantined for tuberculosis, inspired by snowy scenes outside his window.
Some modern versions alter it to "circus clown" for child-friendliness, as traveling parsons faded from culture.
