Michael is a "Sternsinger"

 Michael was one of the Three Wise Men carolers for Epiphany. On Epiphany (Dreikönigstag=Three Kings Day) in Germany, children from the Catholic church go door-to-door to recite a few lines, sing a song, and collect money for a good cause. This year the money went for children in Nicaragua. Parishioners sign up to have them sing at their door.

On the 6th of January itself, they rehearsed and tried on their costumes; on Saturday and Sunday they walked up and down the Vockenhausen hill carrying their star and money box. They needed a "chaperone" for Sunday afternoon, so I walked around with Michael's group. When they finished their last song, I had to write "20*C+B+M*12" with chalk above the doorways and say, "Christus benedicat mansionem." The kids would then say in chorus, "Christus segne dieses Haus" (English: Christ bless this house). It was cute.


Despite the wet weather, they were in good spirits. One boy was planning on only joining the group on Saturday, but when he showed up on Sunday I asked, "I thought you weren't able to come today." He answered, "Ah, but then I thought, why would I just be at home when I could be raising money for the children's rights in Nicaragua?" In fact, the children raised over $1500!