Good King Wenceslas

Good King Wenceslas tells of a kind-hearted king braving the winter cold to bring food to a poor man on the Feast of Stephen, the day after Christmas. The English words were written in 1853 by hymnwriter John Mason Neale, set to the tune of a 13th-century spring carol, Tempus adest floridum, from the 1582 Finnish collection Piae Cantiones.

Its story of generosity makes it a lovely one to teach, and our Love to Sing choir keeps the tale clear and warm. It's a favorite for carol services, school nativities and Christmas concerts.

Explore more Christian Christmas carols, or pair it with Ding Dong Merrily On High and We Three Kings.