The song was written shortly before Christmas 1839 at the request of Ingemann's friend J. F. Fenger, pastor in
Lynge, "I can't help but ask you for a little Christmas carol or carol for children of the same kind as the morning carols". A few days later, Ingemann sent his song to Lynge Rectory. It was published in
Nordisk Tidsskrift for christelig Theologi under the title
Børnenes Julesang in 1840. The musical setting was arranged by
C.E.F. Weyse in 1841. It was his choice to reduce the number of stanza from six to three. He had also composed the tunes for Ingemann's morning songs and evening songs. ==Lyrics==