Good King Wenceslas looked out, on the Feast of Stephen. We all know the carol, which tells of the good king’s generosity – how he brought flesh and wine and fuel to a needy peasant, his faltering page literally treading in his master’s footsteps.

What the carol doesn’t tell us is that, with all the snow lying round about, deep and crisp and even, Wenceslas could pack a wicked snowball, as seen in this medieval fresco. Woe betided the lord or lady who caught one of the king’s frigid projectiles.

On this St. Stephen’s Day, the second day of Christmas, I hope that you too are continuing to enjoy your midwinter festivities.

Here’s a “Meditation on the Old Czech Chorale ‘St. Wenceslas’” (which has little to do with the immortal carol), by Josef Suk. Suk was a pupil – and eventually the son-in-law – of Antonin Dvořák. I’ve never heard this arrangement before. The piece was originally conceived for string quartet.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SL0MiuKZ1Ik

And the carol itself, with lyrics, so sing along!

Just watch your back.

Detail from “Winter” (before 1407), by Master Wenceslas of Bohemia