Good King Wenceslas

Year: 1853

Written By: John Mason Neale

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The extremely popular Christmas carol 'Good King Wenceslas' had its lyrics written in 1853, by the English hymn writer John Mason Neale. Neale wrote the lyrics with his music editor Thomas Helmore.  The carol first made an appearance in Carols for Christmas-Tide, 1853. The lyrics of this carol were set to 13th century tune called 'Tempus adest floridum'.  Despite being set to 'Tempus Adest Floridum', Neale's 'Good King Wenceslas has no lyrics which are the same as those in 'Tempus Adest Floridum'

John Mason Neale published 'Good King Wenceslas' in 1853, however, he may have written his carol much earlier. The evidence of this is that he carried on the legend of St. Wenceslas in his Deeds of Faith which was published in 1849. This formed the basis of the story within Neale's carol.

The carol 'Good King Wenceslas' is about a king who gives alms to a poor peasant on the Feast of Stephen. The Feast of Stephen is the second day of Christmas, the date of this is December 26. The song is actually meant to be based on the life of Saint Wenceslaus I, who was Duke of Bohemia (907-935).

The popularity of Wenceslas has led to him being labelled both a martyr and a saint immediately after his death. Within just a few passing decades since his death, there were already four biographies of him circulating. Although, during his lifetime, he was only a duke, the Holy Roman Emperor Otto I posthumously "conferred on [Wenceslas] the regal dignity and title". As a result, this is why he is referred to as a "king". However this Wenceslas is not to be confused with King Wenceslaus I of Bohemia. Wenceslas is usually spelt as 'Wenceslaus' however, Neale does not write it in this way.

This festive classic has received a variety of positive and negative comments, one notable was is that from Elizabeth Poston, who in the Penguin Book of Christmas Carols, referred to 'Good King Wenceslas' as  "product of an unnatural marriage between Victorian whimsy and the thirteenth-century dance carol". One academic,  H. J. L. J. Massé heavily criticised the carol 'Good King Wenceslas' and went to the extent of claiming that it was not and never has been a Christmas carol, but instead, it is just an Easter hymn.