Chalking The Door

It is always performed on epiphany sometimes called twelfth night which is january 6th.

Chalking the door.

The letters c m b come from the traditional names for the three kings. In exodus the israelites marked their doors with blood so that the lord would pass over their homes. Chalk of any kind or color. The first and last numbers simply refer to the current year.

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. Chalking the door is a tangible way to honor god in our lives. What do the numbers and letters mean. 20 year the year of the blessing.

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 symbols come from a catholic blessing of the home connected to the feast of the epiphany. The meaning of 20 c m b year. Chalking the door by inscribing letters and crosses above the doorway of the home is a tradition that comes to us from europe.

Here is what they mean. 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. Either on twelfth night 5 january the twelfth day of christmastide and eve of the feast of the epiphany or. What materials are needed for this practice.

Caspar melchior and balthazar. 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.