When the carol singers parade through Munich again in this still fresh year, it will be very gratifying. In the past two years, business for the child kings has been rather poor, Corona. But now everyone is out of control: 300,000 little singers are on the road in Germany, at the festive opening event in Frankfurt a group of carol singers drove up on e-scooters, groups dressed up as camels were also said to be present. And in Bavaria, Cardinal Reinhard Marx himself sent out the singers.
But even this year, the carol singers are still advised not to step into hallways or even living rooms while singing, for fear of possible infection. And this outdoor singing recommendation is really painful, because the best thing about carol singing is and always has been: 1. Looking around in strangers’ apartments. 2. The wild waving of the censer. 3. Help needy children. In this order.
The “C+M+B” that the carol singers write on the doors and now sometimes stick on, is well known for “Crash more Buildings”, loosely translated for “Just take a look at how other people live like this.” Because carol singing, which can be revealed here from the author’s private wealth of experience, reveals all sorts of things about people on public holidays. Because between all the holidays, people are fragile beings. For many, meeting the carol singers is their first serious contact with the outside world in the new year.
Some don’t even open the door
There are people who open the door in jogging clothes and heavy with raclette, sit down in their armchairs from exhaustion and while you sing, doze away peacefully. Then there are those who have their little children hairdos and lined up according to size so that they can trump the singing with their own performance. Of course, there are also some that don’t open at all. And those who want to get rid of any responsibility for needy children with the slogan “We are evangelical”. Of course, they will be given a few extra snifters of incense.
Speaking of incense: Some curse and demand that the stinking stuff be put down in Milbertshofen before entering their Schwabing apartments. Others, on the other hand, snatch the keg from you and run through their apartment with it, smoking every room extra.
There are the sing-alongs, the mobile phone filmers, the cookie vendors, the toilet vendors, the “take off your shoes first” faction, the moved, the cozy ones in front of their Christmas tree and those with the fit of laughter.
It’s all right, it’s the new year, you’re still forgiving, especially as a carol singer. The main thing: you can go in.