Wenceslaus Square will come to life, raise the army sleeping in Blaník, and upon crossing the Charles Bridge his horse will stumble and trip over a stone, revealing the legendary sword of Bruncvík. With this sword, King Wenceslaus will slay all the enemies of the Czechs, bringing peace and prosperity to the land. Legacy Wenceslaus is the subject of the popular Saint Stephen's Day (celebrated on December 26 in the West) carol "Good King Wenceslas". It was published by John Mason Neale in 1853, and may be a translation of a poem by Czech poet Václav Alois Svoboda. The usual American English spelling of the duke's name, "Wenceslaus", is occasionally encountered in later textual variants of the carol, although it was not used by Neale in his version. Wenceslaus is not to be confused with King Wenceslaus I of Bohemia (Wenceslaus I Premyslid), who lived more than three centuries later. An equestrian statue of Saint Wenceslaus and other patrons of Bohemia (St. Adalbert, St. Ludmila, St. Prokop and St. Agnes of Bohemia) are located on Wenceslaus Square in Prague. The statue is a popular meeting place in Prague. Demonstrations against the Communist regime were held there. His helmet and armour are on display inside Prague Castle. In popular culture The lavish 1930 silent film St. Wenceslas was at the time the most expensive Czech film ever made. Ogden Nash wrote a comic epic poem, "The Christmas that Almost Wasn't" (1957), in which a boy awakens Wenceslaus and his knights to save the kingdom of Lullapat from usurpers who have outlawed Christmas, with elements from the legend of Wenceslas. The 1994 television film, Good King Wenceslas, is a highly fictional account of his early life. The film stars Jonathan Brandis in the title role, supported by Leo McKern, Stefanie Powers, and Joan Fontaine as Ludmila. See also Crown of Saint Wenceslas Sword of Saint Wenceslas Statues of Saints Norbert, Wenceslaus and Sigismund Good King Wenceslas Notes References External links Patron Saints Index: St. Wenceslaus Catholic Online: St. Wenceslaus Good King Wenceslas - The Real Story 910s births 935 deaths Year of birth uncertain 10th-century Bohemian people 10th-century Christian martyrs 10th-century Christian saints 10th-century rulers in Europe 10th-century murdered monarchs Burials at St. Vitus Cathedral Christian monarchs Christian royal saints Roman Catholic royal saints Christmas characters Czech folklore Czech murder victims Czech Roman Catholic saints Dukes of Bohemia Medieval child monarchs