 There is no definitive version of the Latin text, and there are many variations and parodies in various sacred songbooks, as well as extended, embellished versions (for example motets by the Franco-Flemish composer Orlande de Lassus or the Slovenian-German composer Jacobus Gallus).Georg Wicel, a contemporary of Martin Luther, referred to the carol as "one of the chief Christmas songs of joy" in 1550.In addition to its literal English translation, it has also appeared as "Christ was born on Christmas Day" in two different translations by John Mason Neale in 1853 (who based his version on the 1582 Swedish song collection "Piae Cantiones") and Elizabeth Poston in 1965.