Good King Wenceslas is a popular Christmas carol based on the legend of the real King St. Wenceslas I who lived in Bohemia, today's Czech Republic. He was actually a Duke but Holy Roman Emperor Otto posthumously entitled him with a regal title.
The story presents the title character who is looking through the window on December 26, the feast of St. Stephen. He sees a poor man hardly walking in harsh weather and decides to help him and his family.
The story presents the title character who is looking through the window on December 26, the feast of St. Stephen. He sees a poor man hardly walking in harsh weather and decides to help him and his family.
He takes a page with him and they carry some food and logs. Pretty soon the journey proves to be too difficult for the servant but the king continues by walking in front, so the page can put his feet in the king's footsteps. He notices the snow is melting under king's feet.
They bring the goods to the peasant's family and they have a dinner together.
They bring the goods to the peasant's family and they have a dinner together.
This story can be traced to 1582 where we can find it as a part of Carmina Burana (Piae version). Originally it was an Easter hymn. John Mason Neale rewrote the legend as a poem in 1853. Together with music editor Thomas Helmore, he added a few words to connect the legend with St. Stephen's Day.
The changes in text and the addition of Victorian melody caused a lot of controversies among artists and critics but we need to acknowledge one important thing - with a catchy rhythm and adaptation for performance on a specific date, the story got way more attention than it would ever have in its original form.
At this moment we can enjoy it with lovely illustrations as well:
Good King Wenceslas by Arthur Gaskin
Good King Wenceslas by Jessie Marion King
Enjoy the story and do something good today to make a world a bit better place!
The changes in text and the addition of Victorian melody caused a lot of controversies among artists and critics but we need to acknowledge one important thing - with a catchy rhythm and adaptation for performance on a specific date, the story got way more attention than it would ever have in its original form.
At this moment we can enjoy it with lovely illustrations as well:
Good King Wenceslas by Arthur Gaskin
Good King Wenceslas by Jessie Marion King
Enjoy the story and do something good today to make a world a bit better place!