It is tradition in Bavaria that on Epiphany Day the altar boys (or some other volunteers) from your parish dress up as the Three Wise Men from the Orient and together with the priest they wander from door to door. They're called "Sternsinger" (Star Singers). If you open the door, they will offer to sing you a hymn, and the priest will bless your house for the new year. You donate a small amount of money for charity and for the kids some fruit and sweets. With chalk they will mark your house door, this year it's "20*C+M+B+15", the letters are abbreviations for Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar.
Last time they 'caught' me I asked how much it'll cost me that they don't sing, since it's always a bit of an embarrassing situation. 5 bucks did it. This year coming home from work I found a note in our mailbox stating "We were here and belssed your house in your absence".
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