Holy Family District I
Text collection
They started nine days before Christmas. Each of the nine days began at seven o'clock in the evening and lasted for an hour, about eight o'clock. This was followed by singing and prayer. Fifteen to twenty believers, both men and women, who then gathered every evening.
In the latter case, they only went to one place for all nine days, because they were afraid that someone would disturb them while they were practicing the custom.
Once, they went to nine different places for nine days, to a different person every day.
A small altar was made everywhere, and they prayed and sang at the small altar. The next day, the Holy Family was taken from there to another house. When they arrived at the house, they sang the greeting.
After singing two verses of The Holy Family Seeks Accommodation, they knocked on the door. They asked:
–, Will the Holy Family be allowed in?
And those inside sang the third stanza:
–, Weep no more, Virgin Mary.
Then it began. It continued with prayer and more songs.
In the latter case, they only went to one place for all nine days, because they were afraid that someone would disturb them while they were practicing the custom.
Once, they went to nine different places for nine days, to a different person every day.
A small altar was made everywhere, and they prayed and sang at the small altar. The next day, the Holy Family was taken from there to another house. When they arrived at the house, they sang the greeting.
After singing two verses of The Holy Family Seeks Accommodation, they knocked on the door. They asked:
–, Will the Holy Family be allowed in?
And those inside sang the third stanza:
–, Weep no more, Virgin Mary.
Then it began. It continued with prayer and more songs.