VOL.AT accompanied a group of carol singers in the parish of St. Martin for an afternoon.
©VOL.AT/Mayer, Canva Pro
The Three Kings are back in the country. VOL.AT was allowed to accompany the wise men from the Orient on their way through Dornbirn.
From the parish center of St. Martin, carol singers in colorful robes, with crowns and stars, set out to deliver the good news. This year 40 children and young people are going from door to door in the parish of St. Martin in Dornbirn.
Emma (9), Leopold (7), Noemi (10) and Isabella (10) are out and about in the parish of St. Martin in Dornbirn as carol singers including a star.
©VOL.AT/Mayer
12 groups of carol singers
The twelve carol singer groups are accompanied by dedicated adults. Among them is Stefan Spiegel, who is helping to organize the campaign. Not only numerous private households are visited, but also facilities such as the Senecura Parkresidenz. The residents of the nursing home were very happy to see the children.
In the Senecura Parkresidenz, too, one happily listened to the explanations of the star signers.
©VOL.AT/Mayer
First the carol singers paid a visit to the Senecura café, then they went to the rooms individually.
©VOL.AT/Mayer
help other people
The children have often been with us for several years. But new ones are added every year because the Epiphany campaign is advertised in elementary schools. “I really like that we can make old people happy as well as young people,” says Isabella (10). “Well, what I like about carol singing is that we can raise money for other people in another country and help them,” explains 9-year-old Emma.
The group attracted a lot of attention as they made their way through the city centre.
©VOL.AT/Mayer
40 children and young people go from door to door in the parish of St. Martin.
©VOL.AT/Mayer
donations to pastoral peoples
The donations collected from the Epiphany Campaign 2023 primarily benefit pastoral peoples in northern Kenya. In this desert-like region, the majority of the population lives from their herds of cattle, goats, sheep or camels. Agriculture is only possible to a limited extent and life is characterized by a lack of water.
The four carol singers put their heart and soul into it.
©VOL.AT/Mayer
As a reward for the children there was a lot of praise, cookies and chocolate candies.
©VOL.AT/Mayer
About the customs of Epiphany
On January 6, Catholics celebrate the feast of the Three Kings. Depending on the tradition, the Gospel of Matthew speaks of wise men, magicians or astrologers from the East who came to Bethlehem to find the newborn baby Jesus. They brought frankincense, gold and myrrh as gifts. Popular belief makes three kings out of the wise men: Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar. Today, children and young people go door to door in the parishes. They perform a saying and songs and collect donations. They also write “C+M+B” on the door frame for “Christus Mansionem Benedictat” (Editor’s note. “Christ bless this house”).
