Good King Wenceslas

Christmas Carols Explained, #2

Now, to be perfectly fair, Phineas and Ferb beat me to this one, so here’s Buford’s take on it:

The origins for GKW are varied and longrunning. The “king” is actually a Bohemian duke from 10th century Czechia, the words are from 13th century Scandinavia, and the is from the music from 19th century England. Wenceslas went out into a storm on Saint Stephen’s Day to take a donation to a peasant, and his servant was struggling to keep up. Wenceslas told the servant to follow in his footsteps, which were “deep and crisp and even.” They made it through the storm and helped someone in need.

Christians will recognize the theme of service through hardship, and while Christ Himself is not a figure in the story, the message is about a man who follows Christ’s example, going after a subject who needs help. We can help people by following Christ, or by following people who follow Christ, even as the storms of life rage around us. Just walk the right path and rely on good people around you.

It shouldn’t surprise anyone, but I’d wager that my favorite arrangements for most Christmas carols will be by Mannheim Steamroller, the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, or the Mormon Tabernacle Choir (at Temple Square). GKW is a Mannheim favorite, but if you’ve got a version that you think hits harder than this one, let me know.