Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar have to keep their distance, in the Lower Bavarian town of Vilsbiburg the blessing is even donated in a drive-in. So that the donations do not collapse, the dioceses have extended the campaign beyond Epiphany.
Traditionally, carol singers go from house to house at the beginning of the year, as in Regensburg, to collect for a good cause. This year the custom is dictated by Corona. The boys and girls who are out and about in the form of the Three Kings Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar are not allowed to write the blessing formula C + M + B and the year 2022 on the front doors as usual due to the contact restrictions. The three letters stand not only for the first letters of the wise men from the Orient, but also for the Latin blessing “Christ mansionem benedicat” (Christ bless this house).
In particular, visits to the front door are not possible everywhere due to Corona, and if so, then only with strict attention to infection protection. The recommendations of the district offices and dioceses vary from region to region. The blessing should arrive, but just adapted to the respective situation on site. However, there is no lack of creativity. In the diocese of Augsburg the rule is: one star’s length away. In Vilsbiburg, Lower Bavaria, the blessing will be donated at a drive-in. In some places the blessings of the carol singers are distributed in the church services. Donations can also be made in the respective parish office or via an online account. As an exception, the campaign does not only run until Epiphany, but until February 2, in order to keep a possible decline in donations as low as possible.
Since the start of the campaign in 1959, a good 1.23 billion euros have been raised. Last year the carol singers collected almost 14 million euros in the seven Bavarian dioceses alone. This time the donated money will go to Africa, where many children are growing up under difficult health conditions. The nationwide kick-off event of the children’s mission organization “Die Sternsinger” and the Federation of German Catholic Youth took place a few days ago in Regensburg Cathedral. It was also kept smaller than usual because of Corona. Instead of 240 star singers from all over Germany, only 32 celebrated the opening.