Finally door to door again: On the road with the carol singers
Created: 01/06/2023, 10:00 am
By: Laura Forster
Armed with incense, money box, star and chalk, the carol singers in Tutzing distribute the blessing from January 4th to 7th (from left): Supervisor Fabian (14), Benja (10), Margarete (12), Janina (14), Dorothee (12), organizer and pastoral consultant Stefan Petry and Julius (10).
Of course, sometimes you have a negative experience.
One of them wanted to throw his mastiff at us.
Carolinger Dorothee (12) about her experiences as a carol singer © Dagmar Rutt
The carol singers are allowed to go through the towns again, bless houses and apartments and collect donations for children in need.
The Tutzinger Sternsinger are on the road from January 4th to 7th - but due to a lack of helpers it is not possible to ring every doorbell this year.
Tutzing – The golden, self-made crowns shine in the sun, clouds of incense flow from the thuribulum, and the coins in the tin donation box jingle with every step.
Since 10.30 a.m. the carol singers Julius, Benja, Dorothee, Margarete with their supervisors and high altar boys Janina and Fabian have been out and about in Tutzing on Wednesday and bless houses and apartments – but also public buildings and shops, such as the Hoyer toy store on Kirchenstraße.
"The carol singers of the parish of St. Joseph in Tutzing wish you and the whole house a Happy New Year," says star bearer Margarete (12) as the group of young people enter the shop.
This is followed by the song "Star over Bethlehem, show us the way!" and the blessing of Melchior, Balthazar and Gaspar,
which is attached as a sticker to the upper edge of the door instead of with chalk.
"It's really great that the custom is still practiced like this," says owner Erika Hoyer, putting a banknote in the tin can and handing out sweets to the children.
2023 is the first year since the pandemic that the carol singers can parade through town as usual.
"The last two times we didn't do nothing," says Stefan Petry, pastoral officer and organizer of carol singing for 17 years.
On January 6th, for example, there were 20 stations, for example at the fire station, at the train station or at the lake, where citizens could receive the blessing.
"But people didn't see it that way.
We are all the happier that we can now move from house to house again,” says Petry.
"This is an important aid campaign by children for children."
One of them wanted to throw his mastiff at us
Star singer Dorothee (12)
Petry already advertised carol singing in early December – in elementary schools, secondary schools and high schools.
"I dressed up as a carol singer and talked about the great campaign." He also banged the drum in the services before and during Christmas.
"Anyone from the third grade can take part here - regardless of whether they are Catholic, Protestant or not religious." However, it was not easy to inspire enough children and young people.
"We need 60 carol singers to cover all areas in town and the surrounding villages from January 4th to 7th.
This year we are missing 16 pieces.” This means that carol singers will not ring on some doors.
A flyer from the Kindermissionswerk, to which the collected money will be donated, is distributed by the parish in every mailbox.
Final instructions from the pastoral officer
Before the carol singer groups paraded through the streets of Tutzing on Wednesday, Pastor Peter Seidel held a short prayer service in St. Joseph.
"It's great that you're starting today and the coming days and collecting for children all over the world who aren't doing so well." In addition, the anticipation of the carol singers after the long Corona break is great among the population.
"Many are waiting for you," said the pastor, who blessed the incense, chalk, stars and carol singers.
The children and young people received a few final instructions from Stefan Petry.
"Stay together, obey the traffic rules and smile at the other person."
Nothing new for star bearer Margarete and her friends - they are old carol singers and have been around for years.
"I like doing it.
It's for a good cause and you get some sweets too,” says Julius (10).
A total of 30 streets and the monastery are on the group's schedule until 5 p.m.
“Of course, sometimes you have a negative experience.
One of them once wanted to sic his mastiff after us,” remembers Dorothee.
“Most of the time people are happy when they see us – especially the older ones.
Once they even cooked especially for us,” says Janina.
The money collected by the carol singers in Tutzing will benefit the Kindermissionswerk again this year.
Incidentally, it has expressed a request that the children no longer be painted dark due to discussions about racism.
This year's motto of the fundraiser is "Strengthen children, protect children - in Indonesia and worldwide".
“In the last few years, around 15,000 euros have always been raised.
We hope to achieve that again this time.”
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