Chalking The Door

Caspar melchior and balthazar.

Chalking the door.

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. 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 letters c m b come from the traditional names for the three kings.

Chalking the door is a tangible way to honor god in our lives. 20 year the year of the blessing. Either on twelfth night 5 january the twelfth day of christmastide and eve of the feast of the epiphany or. It is always performed on epiphany sometimes called twelfth night which is january 6th.

The meaning of 20 c m b year. The symbols come from a catholic blessing of the home connected to the feast of the epiphany. Some also suggest christus mansionem benedicat which means may christ. 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.

Chalk of any kind or color. What materials are needed for this practice. Here is what they mean. What do the numbers and letters mean.

Chalking the door by inscribing letters and crosses above the doorway of the home is a tradition that comes to us from europe. 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.