This was originally a New Year's carol, as opposed to a Christmas carol, with versions dating to the early 1500s. Numerous versions have been found, largely inconsistent. English translations appeared as early as the 17th and 18th centuries; translations are still being made as recently as 1998. This version is "Sing We Now Of Christmas", traditional English, translator unknown, circa 17th or 18th Century. This is the version used by The Kingston Trio on their Last Month of the Year album. It is included in The New Oxford Book of Carols (#184).