photo #8817278

Christmas Carol History: Good King Wenceslas This carol is one of the most unusual in the Christmas tradition. It was written in 1853 by John Mason Neale, a priest and hymn writer who loved digging up forgotten stories from church history. Neale found the tale of Wenceslaus, a 10th century Bohemian duke celebrated for his compassion toward the poor, and turned it into a winter carol that sounded almost like a short story set to music. Wenceslaus was not actually a king, but he became known as one because of his reputation for holiness and generosity. According to tradition, he would walk through the snow at night to bring food, firewood, and help to families in need. Neale saw in that story a picture of Christlike charity, and he used it to encourage believers to live with warmth and mercy during the coldest seasons of life. The carol follows Wenceslas and his young page as they brave harsh weather to care for a poor man gathering sticks in the snow. The turning point comes when the page cannot go on, and Wenceslas tells him to walk in his footsteps. The warmth of the king’s steps keeps him going, a powerful reminder that the example of the righteous can strengthen those who follow after them. It is not a carol about Bethlehem, but it is unmistakably about the character of Christ. Love in action. Mercy for the vulnerable. Light in the winter darkness. For generations it has encouraged Christians to see Christmas not only as a celebration, but as a call to generosity.