Chalking The Door

What do the numbers and letters mean.

Chalking the door.

Chalking the door by inscribing letters and crosses above the doorway of the home is a tradition that comes to us from europe. The symbols come from a catholic blessing of the home connected to the feast of the epiphany. Chalking the door is one of the christian epiphanytide traditions used in order to bless one s home as well as a scottish custom of landlord and tenant law. The meaning of 20 c m b year.

Caspar melchior and balthazar. Some also suggest christus mansionem benedicat which means may christ. What is a chalking the door service. It is always performed on epiphany sometimes called twelfth night which is january 6th.

Either on twelfth night 5 january the twelfth day of christmastide and eve of the feast of the epiphany or. It is however an easy tradition to adopt and a great practice whereby we dedicate our year to god from its very outset asking his blessing on our homes and on all who live work or visit them there. The chalking of the doors is a centuries old practice throughout the world though it appears to be somewhat less well known in the united states. This short liturgy is a way of marking our homes usually at the front or main entrance with sacred signs and symbols as we ask god s blessing upon those who live work or visit throughout the coming year.

The letters c m b come from the traditional names for the three kings. Why do catholics have the symbols 20 c m b year written in chalk on or above their doors. The first and last numbers simply refer to the current year. Chalk of any kind or color.

What materials are needed for this practice. 20 year the year of the blessing.