The tune for this composed carol is found in Piae Cantiones (1582) where it is a carol for spring: Tempus Adest Floridum. J. M. Neale's lyrics celebrate the life of Vaclav the Good (germanized as Wenceslas) who ruled Bohemia from 922 to 929. He was an ardent Christian proselytizer who was canonized for political reasons after his murder by supporters of his brother who ruled after him. He is the patron saint of Bohemia (Czech Republic). The carol is not based on any known incident in the life of Vaclav but was probably intended only as an illustration of charity connected with St. Stephen's Day (Boxing Day), a day for giving to the poor. It is included in The New Oxford Book of Carols (#97). In plays nicely on the banjo in G tuning and goes well in a medley with "Angels We Have Heard on High" and "Deck the Halls" which are in this section.