Saint Stephen and Herod facts for kids
"St. Stephen and Herod" is an old English song, also known as a Christmas carol. It's part of a collection called the Child ballads, which are traditional songs and poems from Britain and Ireland. This particular song tells a story about Saint Stephen and Herod the Great.
The song says that Saint Stephen was killed for his beliefs during the time of King Herod. This part of the story is a bit like a time-travel mistake, because Stephen actually lived much later than Herod. The ballad also suggests this event is why St. Stephen's Day is celebrated right after Christmas Day.
The Story of St. Stephen and Herod
In the song, Saint Stephen worked for King Herod as a clerk, which is like a secretary. One day, Stephen saw the bright Star of Bethlehem in the sky. He knew this star meant something very important had happened.
Stephen then went to King Herod to tell him he wanted to leave his job. Herod asked Stephen if he was missing anything or if he was unhappy. Stephen replied that everything in Herod's palace was fine, but a new child born in Bethlehem was far more important than anything else.
King Herod didn't believe him. He said that what Stephen claimed was as unlikely as the cooked rooster on his dinner plate crowing again. But right at that moment, the cooked rooster miraculously came back to life and crowed! Because of this amazing event, and Stephen's belief, Herod ordered Stephen to be killed.
Other Versions of the Story
The idea of a cooked rooster coming back to life is a common theme in many old European stories and songs. It often appears in tales where an innocent person is about to be punished, and a miracle saves them. Someone might say they don't believe in the miracle, comparing it to a cooked rooster crowing again – and then it happens!
Another old song, The Carnal and the Crane, tells a similar story. But in that version, the wise men are the main heroes, not St. Stephen.
See also
- List of Child Ballads
