Three Holy Kings’ collect for charities

Germans observe Epiphany, or Three Kings Day, Saturday. Epiphany, which is  always celebrated Jan. 6, marks the end of the Christmas season.

***image1***It’s one of Germany’s most traditional and characteristic religious holidays, but it is a legal holiday only in the states of Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria and Sachsen.

Children disguised as the three holy kings can be seen walking from house to house in the KMC. They have paper crowns on their head and carry a big golden star on a pole. They sing, pray and ask for charity collections for their parish.

The children represent Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar. In former times, when going from house to house, they  received Christmas cookies, pretzels and sausages. Today, people donate money which mainly is used for supporting projects in developing countries and other missionary projects.

***image2***After receiving a donation, the three holy kings bless the house by writing with chalk “20C+M+B07” above the doors to keep evil from entering. The three letters C, M and B don’t stand for the kings’ initials, but for the Latin words “Christus Mansionem Benedictat,” and literally means “Christ bless this home.” The blessing has to stay over the door until the next Three Kings Day.
 
Caspar is Hebraic and means treasurer; Melchior is Hebraic and means the king of light; and the Babylonian name Balthasar means “the Lord may protect the life of the king.”  The three wise men were considered kings, because when Christ was born they came to the stable and brought gifts of gold, incense and myrrh.

Saturday, most Germans light their Christmas tree for the last time, before discarding it and packing the ornaments away until next Christmas.