WHAT’S THE STORY? PART 1

WHAT’S THE STORY?

by

Christine Phillips

December 15, 2011

Have you ever wondered about the background behind the Christmas carols we sing? I have. So I decided to do some research (one of my favorite things to do). The first song I’m going to discuss is:

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
Gath'ring winter fuel.

"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."

 

"Bring me flesh and bring me wine;
Bring me pine logs hither.
Thou and I will see him dine
When we bear him thither."
Page and monarch forth they went,
Forth they went together,
Through the rude 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 thou in them boldly;
Thou shalt find the winter's rage
Freeze thy blood less coldly."

 

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.

 

 

John Mason Neale, an Anglican priest, wrote the words to this carol in 1853. He wanted to use King Wenceslas as an example of generosity. But since the song mentions that Wenceslas “looked out” on the feast of Stephen, it is actually a Boxing Day carol. The feast of Saint Stephen was the day after Christmas, known as Boxing Day in Canada. Neale used the tune of a spring carol first published in 1582 in a collection of Swedish church and school songs.

Who was King Wenceslas? He was the king of Bohemia (now part of the Czech Republic) in the 10th century. He was a Christian. He was raised by his Christian grandmother, Ludmila, who taught him that faith without action is meaningless. Because of her teaching, Wenceslas was compassionate toward those who were poor and needy.

When Wenceslas was thirteen, his father died and his grandmother became his regent. His mother, Drahomira, killed Ludmila and seized the throne. Two years later, Wenceslas seized the throne from Drahomira and banished her to a neighboring country. He reigned over Bohemia for seven years. His younger brother, Boleslaw, and some Bohemian nobles plotted against Wenceslas. On September 28, 929, they killed him. Wenceslas became Bohemia’s most famous martyr and patron saint. Their coins bore his picture, and his crown symbolized Czech independence.

According to the song, on the night of the feast of St. Stephen, Wenceslas was filled with sympathy when he saw a poor man gathering fuel for a fire.  He decided to bring the poor man food, wine, and wood for his fire. He had his page gather everything that they would take to the man’s house, and they set out. The snow was deep, and the winter storm chilled them to the bone.

The page began to complain, "Sire, the night is darker now / And the wind blows stronger. / Fails my heart, I know not how; / I can go no longer.” 

Wenceslas urged him to follow in his tracks: “Mark my footsteps, my good page, / Tread thou in them boldly; / Thou shalt find the winter's rage / Freeze thy blood less coldly."

When the page stepped into his master’s footprints, he found that they were warm. He stayed close behind his master and found shelter from the storm.

In his master's steps he trod / Where the snow lay dinted. / Heat was in the very sod / Which the Saint had printed.

Sometimes we feel alone and abandoned. We feel like we can go no longer. We’re ready to give up hope. It feels like we’re experiencing winter’s rage, and our lives are cold and lonely. But we are never alone. Jesus will never abandon us. We need to follow Him more closely. His love will keep us warm, and He will shelter us from the storms of life.

Therefore, Christian men, be sure / Wealth or rank possessing / Ye who now will bless the poor / Shall yourselves find blessing.

 

This Christmas, we should seek ways to bless the poor, and in doing so, we also will be blessed. It has nothing to do with wealth or rank. It has to do with our desire to bless others. We shouldn’t just give to those who can give back. We should follow the example of King Wenceslas, and our Heavenly Father, and bless those who are in need.

 

Works Cited

1. Internet article at http://www.christianity.com/ChurchHistory/11629773/

2. "Good King Wenceslas." Deep Cove Crier. http://www3.telus.net/st_simons/cr9212.htm