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Writer David Kubicek
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Wenceslas Square is one of Prague's two main squares, a bustling district of commerce with hotels, bars, restaurants, shops, and apartments. The main street of the Square is a 750-meter long, 60-meter wide road built 600 years ago during King Charles IV's rein for use as a horse market. Overlooking the Square is a statue of the national Czech hero St. Wenceslas astride his horse. This is the same Wenceslas immortalized in John Mason Neale's song, "Good King Wenceslas." Wenceslaus's [as his name was spelled at that time] parents were Vratislav I, Duke of Bohemia, and Drahomira, the daughter of a pagan tribal chief, who was baptized at the time of her marriage. In 921 A.D. Vratislav died, and the 13-year-old Wenceslaus went to live with his grandmother, Ludmila, a devout Christian who imbued her grandson with the true meaning of charity. Fleeing a fierce dispute with Drahomira, Ludmila sought refuge at Tetin Castle, where she was strangled by Drahomira's agent on Sept. 15, 921. In 924 or 925 Wenceslaus gained control of Bohemia from his mother and exiled Drohomira and his twin brother, Boleslaus, who was a few minutes younger than he. Exiling his mother and brother, rather than executing them, was the first of many acts of charity for the young Duke, whose reign was characterized by the kindness and compassion that he'd learned from his grandmother. Not only did he enact laws that he thought would best serve the Lord, but he also journeyed to other lands seeking enlightenment. Wenceslaus loved Christmas. Every Christmas Eve he and several pages would take food, firewood, and clothing to his most needy subjects, and he encouraged the rich to give to the poor. He became one of the most-loved rulers of his time, perhaps of all time. One day in 935, just before entering the chapel for his daily prayers, he heard a voice call to him. Turning, he saw Boleslaus approaching. Before he could recover from his shock, Boleslaus' cohorts stabbed him to death. His last words were, "Brother, may God forgive you." Wenceslaus was 28, and he left behind him a wife and son. But a strange thing happened. Boleslaus was so revolted by what he had done, that he turned away from the pagans who had supported his quest for power. Instead, he spent the rest of his life carrying out the kind of good deeds that his brother had started. Flash forward to the mid-19th Century when the Reverend John Mason Neale came across the story of Wenceslaus and decided that it would make a nice example to teach children about Christian generosity. He wrote the lyrics to "Good King Wenceslas"-evidently using poetic license to promote the Duke to a King-and set it to the tune of an old Latin carol, "Tempus Adest Floridum" (translated as "Spring Has Unwrapped Her Flowers"), first published in 1582. When "Good King Wenceslas" was published in 1853 it quickly became a Christmas favorite, although it actually takes place after Christmas. The first line of the song tells of King Wenceslas looking out on the Feast of Stephen. St. Stephen was Christianity's first martyr, tried for blasphemy by the Sanhedrin and stoned to death by an enraged mob that was urged on by Saul of Tarsus, who was destined to become St. Paul. St. Stephen's feast Day is December 26 in the Western Church and December 27 in the Eastern Church.
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