Personent hodie

[2] The text was probably re-written for the Feast of the Holy Innocents (28 December) when choristers and their "boy bishop" traditionally displaced the senior clergy from the choir stalls.

[5] The book became well known in Britain after a rare copy of Piae Cantiones owned by Peter of Nyland was given as a gift to the British Minister in Stockholm.

[9] The carol became more prominent in England after being arranged for unison voices and orchestra in 1916 by Gustav Holst (1874–1934), where in its organ reduction it is often used as a processional hymn in church and cathedral services.

[15] A popular arrangement of the carol was written by Dr. Lara Hoggard as a Festival Procession[16] that has been performed with full orchestra and organ[17] and features a brass introduction and a climatic "Gloria in excelsis Deo".

[18] Several recorded versions are arranged in a more folk-oriented style: for example, a performance by Maddy Prior and The Carnival Band on their 1987 album A Tapestry of Carols, which utilises period instruments.

[20] The contemporary English cross-disciplinary music ensemble North Sea Radio Orchestra have recorded a small-ensemble instrumental version of the piece arranged for two violins, cello, clarinet, bassoon, oboe, piano, vibraphone, chamber organ and guitar.

when he came down to earth, Bethlehem saw his birth; ox and ass beside him from the cold would hide him.Refrain Domino subditus, In cunis positus Ubera vitabat, Corpus macerabat, Et ter in sabbato Puer jejunabat.

Wise Men three to him led; kneel they low by his bed, lay their gifts before him, praise him and adore him.Refrain Submerso puero Mari pestifero Dedit, quod petivit, Preces exaudivit, Submersum puerum Patris custodivit.