Press Photo German villager standing watch while folks are in church

Germany, customs. It's traditional in Offenbau, a German village near Nuremburg, for a villager to stand guard over homes while folks are in church. The custom goes back about 350 years, at which time there was a rash of thefts when people were in church. Men of the village take turns at the ceremonial vigil.

Photo is undated.

Photo measures 8 x 10.25 inches.