The history of this simple, childlike Christmas carol isn't well-documented, but many historians believe that American composer, pastor, and school principal Benjamin Hanby wrote “Jolly Old Saint Nicholas” because it was published in the mid-1800s around the same time as Hanby's Christmas song “Up on the Housetop” and has similar musical qualities.

The music that forms the basic notes of “Jolly Old Saint Nicholas” is “Canon in D Major” by Johann Pachelbel.

Sometimes people credit Wilf Carter, a singer who was known professionally as Montana Slim, with writing “Jolly Old Saint Nicholas,” because he was the first to record the song.