Advent Calendar, Dec 10: An Incredible Quest For The Original Poem "Good King Wenceslas" Was Based On
Advent Calendar, Dec 10: An Incredible Quest For The Original Poem "Good King Wenceslas" Was Based On
Happy Second Sunday Of Advent
I’d never heard of this historian before. Did he truly go through all this to get to the bottom of it?
Pretty amazing.
The incredible true or mostly true story of the genuinely good King Wenceslas, pride of Bohemia:
This version allows a contemplation of the truly remarkable lyrics, which I always thought originated with John Mason Neale.
All of that aside, it’s very enjoyable to actually look at the lyrics and think about them as the song progresses. It was my sister Bibi who made me first appreciate these words, when she sang it (she is a singer and songwriter) some years ago.
After that, I started to research Wenceslas…whose name I first encountered during the Velvet Revolution, in Prague, November 1989, in Wenceslas Square, filled with thousands of singing, dancing, laughing people with candles and hearts bursting with joy.
The story, mythology, lore and history of this Saint is boundless.
This is definitely my favorite Christmas song.
What’s yours?
Celia, This is my favorite Christmas song also. I only learned all the words last year and it conveys so sweetly what I consider the true meaning and wonder of Christmas, and of life and love. I ordered a most beautiful, out-of-print book, Good King Wenceslas illustrated by Jamichael Henterly, published in 1988. I highly recommend it, though it is hard to find. ps: I also love the depiction of how a true leader acts -- with compassion and consideration of their constituents. May we envision and soon live in such a world. <3
In high regards to the writer I’ve followed since my Christmas gift subscription to Esquire, my favorite for you is “Guardian Angel”. A gym like you it was composed by Adolph “Harpo” Marx, sung by Mario Lanza and conducted by Frank Sinatra.
https://youtu.be/M_FD5yutYWE?si=AAAxHIQme4UpjiIm