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Good King Wenceslas is a popular Christmas carol.
Words : John Mason Neale (1818-1866). First published in Carols for Christmas-Tide, 1853, by Neale and Thomas Helmore.
Music : Tempus Adest Floridum (Spring has unwrapped her Flowers), a 13th century spring carol. First published in the Swedish Piae Cantiones, 1582.
Source : Bramley, Rev. Henry Ramsden and Stainer, Sir John, Christmas Carols New and Old. London : Novello, Ewer & Co., ca 1871.
The carol tells the story of Good King Wenceslas who goes out to bring alms (flesh, wine and pine-logs) to a poor peasant on the Feast of Stephen (the second day of Christmas, December 26).
During the journey to the poor man's dwelling, the king's page is about to give up the struggle against the rude wind and bitter, cold weather, but is enabled to continue by the heat miraculously emanating from the king's footsteps in the snow.
This legend is based on the life of the historical Saint Wenceslaus I, Duke of Bohemia (907-935).
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