Have any of you seen, or observed the custom of chalking the door on Epiphany? It would appear like this:
20 + C + M + B + 24
It looks like an equation. But 24 is for the year, the crosses are for Christ, C is for Caspar, M is for Melchior, and B is for Balthasar; the names ascribed by tradition to the three wise men. Actually we don't know that there were three, just that there were three gifts mentioned in the Gospel. The letters also represent the Latin words, Christus mansionem benedicat. Translation; Christ bless this house.
I had not seen the custom prior to living in our present town. It is usually on the lintel of an interior door. It may be a Polish custom, since our parish has Polish roots.
We haven't done it in our house, but I may if I can find a piece of chalk.
Anglicans do it.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was doing Episcopal Sunday school it was suggested that we chalk the door to the kids' classrooms on the Sunday before Jan 6 and say the collect for Epiphany, then give the kids chalk to take home to do with their families on Epiphany. (It's always Jan 6 for Anglicans.)
A couple parents with nicer homes were unhappy about our giving the kids chalk to mess up their carefully decorated front doors.
Sad, as I agree with Jim's general idea in some of his homilies that religious observances and prayers should be incorporated into family life, not just relegated to the parish church proper.
I think the numbers are 20 and 24.
20 and 24 make sense!
DeleteHere's more info from an Anglican site. The comments are pretty funny (Yes, you can use regular chalk if you lost your blessed chalk. Yes, you can use pencil in a pinch.) https://www.thetableindy.org/epiphany-tradition-chalking-of-the-door/
DeleteThanks for reminding me of a tradition I haven't thought about for years! I might see if Raber wants to do it today when we put the fake tree away if I can find some chalk. We are behind on everything.
Definitely a Polish custom. Don't know if it originated there.
ReplyDeleteThis was done around Epiphany when I was growing up. It was an occasion for the priest to visit homes. Didn’t happen every year. I suspect weather and the health of the priest might have been determining factors.
ReplyDeleteThe Orthodox bless homes at this time too. It is connected with the blessing of water; no chalk is involved. Theophany on January 6th (our Epiphany) is celebrated as a feast of the Baptism of Christ rather than as the coming of the Magi. Water is blessed in the Church, and some of it is taken home for use. The priest also comes around and blesses homes with it.
I had not heard before of chalking the door - very interesting!
ReplyDeleteThis is from Deuteronomy chapter 6:
4 Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD alone!
5 Therefore, you shall love the LORD, your God, with your whole heart, and with your whole being, and with your whole strength.
6 Take to heart these words which I command you today.
7 Keep repeating them to your children. Recite them when you are at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you get up.
8 Bind them on your arm as a sign and let them be as a pendant on your forehead.
9 Write them on the doorposts of your houses and on your gates.