My Favorite Christmas Song: Good King Wenceslas

Christmas carols are an essential part of the holiday season for many people. Special Christmas songs warm our hearts and bring us together, sharing the joy of music. There are so many Christmas songs that choosing a favorite might be considered difficult, but for me, one song has been my favorite ever since I first learned it: "Good King Wenceslas."

"Good King Wenceslas" is unique because it is a Christmas song that tells a story, and the story is not about the Nativity, or birth of Jesus. The action takes place on St. Stephen's Day, December 26 (or December 27 in the Eastern Orthodox church).

Good King Wenceslas looked out on the feast of Stephen,
When the snow lay round about, deep and crisp and even;
Brightly shone the moon that night, tho' the frost was cruel,
When a poor man came in sight gath'ring winter fuel.
--lyrics in the public domain, written by John Mason Neale

St. Stephen's Day honors the first Christian martyr. According to Catholic Saints Online, St. Stephen was one of the first deacons, appointed as a helper to the apostles to care for the poor and widows.

Stephen was quite successful at preaching and converting people to Christianity, so some people who were enemies of the early church framed him as a blasphemer (someone who speaks sinfully against God) and had him stoned to death.

As for the poor man, apparently he caught the attention of our friend Wenceslas, who was moved to help him.

"Hither, page, and stand by me, if thou know'st it, telling,
Yonder peasant, who is he? Where and what his dwelling?"
"Sire, he lives a good league hence, underneath the mountain;
Right against the forest fence, by Saint Agnes' fountain."

"Good King Wenceslas" was actually Saint Wenceslaus I, Duke of Bohemia in the tenth century. According to Catholic Online, Wenceslaus, like Stephen, is considered a Christian martyr. He was raised as a Christian by his grandmother, but his father died when Wenceslaus was only 13. His non-Christian mother then acted as regent, possibly having the grandmother killed to prevent establishment of Christian rule. Wenceslaus did come to power, however, probably at age 15, and ruled as a Christian, encouraging (or forcing) his subjects to become Christians as well. He was later murdered by his own brother, a non-Christian, and became Bohemia's patron saint.

We don't know whether the type of incident described in this Christmas song ever actually occurred. The song's author, John Mason Neale, describes it in the 1860 edition of his book Deeds of Faith as simply a legend.

"Bring me flesh, and bring me wine, bring me pine logs hither:
Thou and I will see him dine, when we bear them thither."
Page and monarch, forth they went, forth they went together;
Through the rude wind's wild lament and the bitter weather.

Meat, wine, and a roaring fire of pine logs! These, along with the rousing melody, bring cozy, Christmassy images to mind. Who wouldn't be inspired to brave the weather? A difficult trip is in store for the young page, however.

"Sire, the night is darker now, and the wind blows stronger;
Fails my heart, I know not how, I can go no longer."
"Mark my footsteps, my good page. Tread thou in them boldly:
Thou shalt find the winter's rage freeze thy blood less coldly."

Many people, such as the Reverend Ed Hird of North Vancouver, see in this a reference to walking in Jesus' steps - he is the Master, and he will guide us safely if we walk in his steps. Neale includes a miracle in his song, too.

In his master's steps he trod, where the snow lay dinted;
Heat was in the very sod which the saint had printed.
Therefore, Christian men, be sure, wealth or rank possessing,
Ye who now will bless the poor, shall yourselves find blessing.

The saint's footprints actually hold enough heat to keep the page going on this dark and stormy night. And finally, a reminder that those who have much should bless those who have little with some of their wealth. Neale did write this as a Christmas song for 19^th century children, so naturally he included a moral lesson.

Neale borrowed the melody for his Christmas song from a traditional 13^th Century spring song called "Tempus Adest Floridum", which translates to "it is time for flowering." I can't imagine it as anything but a winter song, though - it's perfectly suited to both the story and the time of year.

Remembering and singing about Good King Wenceslas on St. Stephen's Day, December 26, makes a great family tradition for Christmas. Perhaps your family could put this Christmas song into action, as well, by taking food to someone who has little, or by donating food to a local food bank. Find your own way to "bless the poor" and then you "shall yourselves find blessing."