With Helena and Annika, the cloak and crown were already ready – but Corona thwarted the sisters’ bill. The Epiphany will be canceled in 2021. “I think it’s stupid that carolers are canceled this year because people have become even poorer because of Corona and they need more money this year than usual,” 8-year-old Annika sums it up. Because in the diocese of Würzburg alone, the carol singers collected around 1.5 million euros in 2020. The organizers now fear that fewer donations will be collected this year.
Segensbotschaft per Video
To counteract this, the diocese of Würzburg has considered a special campaign: The blessing and the blessing song are available in video format this year, as pastoral consultant Sebastian Volk explains, who is responsible for the caroling campaign in the diocese of Würzburg. On January 6th, Epiphany, the video will be shown on the diocese’s homepage and on the social media channels.
Disappointment is great
“Certainly something will be lost. The personal, the joy on the faces of the people who look forward to the carol singers all year round. There are many who are eagerly waiting for it! I think many will miss that,” said Volk. And not only that: The children who wanted to take part in the caroling campaign are also very disappointed.
Small actions in the communities
Britta Schäfers from the parish of Sankt Alfons in Würzburg, who actually volunteered to take care of the carol-singing campaign, provides a little consolation. She brings each of the 22 children a greeting card with a festival ribbon tied to it. “Since that is not possible in the traditional way, you have to find ways, I think. How do I manage to collect donations anyway? Because yes, it’s different now, but you don’t have to do something for better or for worse Continuing the old, but looking: What alternative solutions are there, “says Schäfers.
Blessing as a sticker
So that people do not have to forego the blessing 20 * C + M + B + 21 on their lintel, they can pick it up as a sticker in their communities. “And there is the possibility that donation cans are set up at butchers or bakeries, where people can take stickers with the blessing and leave a donation,” adds Volk. “Christ Mansionem Benedicat: Christ bless this house” The blessing is the same – only the path is different this year.
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