The song was originally published in the children’s magazine Jultomten in 1898, and has then been re-published several times.
According to song researcher Lennart Kjellgren the crediting of Sefve for the music is uncertain (1999).
Originally the opening lines were "Midnatt råder, det är tyst i husen", which nowadays has been replaced with "Midnatt råder, tyst det är i husen".
During Saint Lucy processions, the Christmas gnomes (tomtenisse) often do their entrance to this song.
[1] The song was also recorded by Lill Lindfors on her 1991 Christmas album En Lillsk jul.