I've always assumed that this is a "rewrite" or adaptation of a much older traditional song, if not a flat-out as-is appropriation of an uncopyrighted piece for the purpose of collecting royalties. It certainly sounds and "feels" like an ancient Yuletide piece.

Maybe I've been wrong, however, since this thread has been posted on Mudcat during two different years without attracting the attention of one of our more scholarly memebers, who could presumably identify any older source that might exist.

Of course, now that I look more closely, the thread appeared and quickly disappeared in a single day back in 1998. Perhaps it's not too late for someone to teach us a thing or two about this song's traditional origins ~ if indeed there are any!