The Christmas carol "Good King Wenceslas" is unique in that it does not mention the nativity or Jesus in any way. So why is it a Christmas carol? Because the story it tells occurs on the second day of Christmas - the Feast of St. Stephen.
It may surprise you to learn that Wenceslas is a real person. He was the Duke of Bohemia from 925 AD until his martyrdom in 935. At the age of 13, his father Ratislav died and his mother Drahomira became regent. Although she had been baptised as a Christian to marry Ratislav, she tried to bring Bohemia back into paganism and began a persecution of Christians.
At 18, Wenceslas overthrew his mother and stopped the persecution of priests. Although history considers him a stern but fair monarch, many in the nobility were not happy with his reforms and his support of the Christian faith. So in 935 AD Boleslav, Wenceslas' own brother, had him assassinated as Wenceslas was traveling to attend mass.
Today, Wenceslas is remembered as the patron saint of the Czech People and his feast day of September 28 is also celebrated as a national holiday in Czech Republic.
The carol was written by John Mason Neale in 1853. The music however originates 300 years earlier from Finland. Neale wrote the carol to encourage the generous giving to the poor. He choose Wenceslas as the subject of his carol because of the tradition of Wenceslas' kindness and generosity to the poor.
The carol itself is about Wenceslas and his page going to rescue a poor peasant who is gathering firewood (perhaps to sell) on a very cold winter night.
My favorite verses are the last two. In verse 4 the page cries out to the king that he can go on no longer in the snow. To which Wenceslas replies, “Mark my footsteps, my good page, tread now in them boldly, You shall find the winter’s rage freeze your blood less coldly." So the page begins to step in his masters footsteps and their he finds the warmth and the strength he needs to continue on.
It reminds me that traveling through life always is easier when I walk in the footsteps of my master.
"Good King Wenceslas"
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, though the frost was cruel,
When a poor man came in sight, gathering winter fuel.
“Hither, page, and stand by me, if you know 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.”
“Bring me food and bring me wine, bring me pine logs hither,
You and I will see him dine, when we bear them thither.”
Page and monarch, forth they went, forth they went together,
Through the cold wind’s wild lament and the bitter weather.
“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 now in them boldly,
You shall find the winter’s rage freeze your blood less coldly.”
In his master’s steps he trod, where the snow lay dented;
Heat was in the very sod which the saint had printed.
Therefore, Christian men, be sure, wealth or rank possessing,
You who now will bless the poor shall yourselves find blessing.
1 comment:
Aren't you glad I made you look this up earlier this week :)
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