In his A Folk Song a Day project, Jon Boden's song for December 18 is "we Wish You a Merry Christmas. His lyrics are different from the "figgy pudding" song:

WE WISH YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS

We singers make bold, as in days of old,
To celebrate Christmas and bring you good cheer.
Glad tidings I bring of Messiah, our King,
So we wish you a merry Christmas,
So we wish you a merry Christmas,
So we wish you a merry Christmas and a happy New Year!

The shepherds amazed, as upwards they gazed,
Behold! Holy angels to them drawing near,
Singing "Goodwill to men!" as onwards they came,
So we wish you a merry Christmas,
So we wish you a merry Christmas,
So we wish you a merry Christmas and a happy New Year!

Lets join heart and hand to keep God's command,
By loving to serve Him throughout the New Year.
In an innocent way we'll be happy today,
So we wish you a merry Christmas,
So we wish you a merry Christmas,
So we wish you a merry Christmas and a happy New Year!
So we wish you a merry Christmas,
So we wish you a merry Christmas,
So we wish you a merry Christmas and a happy New Year!


Does anybody know anything about the origins of these two very different versions of the song?

-Joe-