What does chalking of the house mean?

The practice is called “chalking the doors” because priests traditionally would bless the house and then use chalk to write above the main entrance the specific year, separated by the letters C, M and B (e.g., 20+C+M+B+20, for the 2020 blessing).

What is chalking your door for Epiphany?

The Christian custom of chalking the door has a biblical precedent as the Israelites in the Old Testament marked their doors in order to be saved from death; likewise, the Epiphanytide practice serves to protect Christian homes from evil spirits until the next Epiphany Day, at which time the custom is repeated.

How do Catholics bless their house?

In Roman Catholicism, Lutheranism, Anglicanism, Methodism and Orthodoxy, they are usually performed by a pastor who may sprinkle holy water (depending on denominational tradition) as he walks through every room of the house, accompanied by the occupants of the house, whilst praying for the occupants.

What is the Epiphany after Christmas?

What is Epiphany? Epiphany - also known as Three Kings' Day - is a Christian festival, which starts on 6 January. It is a special date in the Christmas story as it's when people celebrate how a star led the Magi - also known as the Three kings or the Wise Men - to visit the baby Jesus after he had been born.

How do you celebrate Epiphany at home?

One delightful way to celebrate Epiphany in the home is to prepare and eat a Kings' Cake with friends and family. In this symbolic search for the baby Jesus, children and adults gather to eat a delicious cake or pastry with a toy baby hidden inside.

Chalking the Door: 20+C+M+B+YEAR Meaning

What are the 3 reasons to celebrate Epiphany?

What foods are eaten on Epiphany?

Epiphany, known as the holiday of light, finds representation with a dish of oranges, blood oranges, clementines or tangerines on the dinner table. Dried figs nestle among the dessert treats, which include spicy, exotic cakes. Because the Magi haled from the Orient, spicy cake is a traditional Epiphany staple.

When should I take down Christmas tree?

Epiphany is the official end of the festive season on 6th January each year. It's an ancient Christian feast day celebrating the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist, and the arrival of the Three Wise Men.

What is the last day of Christmas called?

Twelfth Night (also known as Epiphany Eve) is a Christian festival on the last night of the Twelve Days of Christmas, marking the coming of the Epiphany.

What do Catholics write above the door?

The practice is called “chalking the doors” because priests traditionally would bless the house and then use chalk to write above the main entrance the specific year, separated by the letters C, M and B (e.g., 20+C+M+B+20, for the 2020 blessing).

What is the blessing of the chalk?

The blessing of the chalk takes place just before the final blessing and dismissal. The following prayer may be used: May God, who provided a safe dwelling place for the eternal Word, bless this chalk, the homes of the faithful, and the people who live there, through Christ our Lord.

What prayer can I say to bless my house?

Dear God, I pray over this home and everyone in it. Lord, I pray that you will keep this home safe both spiritually and physically. I pray for the safety of the physical house against damage, and the members of this house against injury and sickness.

How do you chalk an Epiphany door 2022?

Epiphany (also known as Twelfth Night, Theophany, or Three Kings Day) marks the occasion of a time-honored Christian tradition of “chalking the doors.” The formula for the ritual — adapted for 2022 — is simple: take chalk of any color and write the following above the entrance of your home: 20 + C+M + B + 22.

Can you bless your own Epiphany chalk?

Below are the instructions on how you, too, can bless your home for the Solemnity of the Epiphany. You can use your own chalk and holy water. If you would like to get a printed copy of these instructions & chalk, you may come by our parish office during regular business hours.

What does a cross on the front door mean?

At times of plague, it was common to mark the doors of victims of the disease with a large painted cross, either in red or black paint. In later times, large printed crosses were often affixed to doors.

What year of the church are we in?

2021-2022 is liturgical year C. The feast days of saints celebrated in one country are not necessarily celebrated everywhere.

Why is it 12 Days of Christmas?

Christians believe that the 12 days of Christmas mark the amount of time it took after the birth of Jesus for the magi, or wise men, to travel to Bethlehem for the Epiphany when they recognized him as the son of God.

What is the color of Epiphany?

The feasts of Christmas Day and Christmastide, Epiphany Sunday, Baptism of the Lord Sunday, Transfiguration Sunday, Easter Season, Trinity Sunday, and Christ the King Sunday are represented by white.

Is the Christmas tree Catholic?

“We see it as a Christian symbol first, and you learn that it wasn't always a Christian symbol later in life,” said Father James Bretzke, a professor of moral theology at Boston College. “It might have been pagan, but now is Christian.

Is it bad luck to take Christmas tree down?

Some people believe that you may have bad luck in the New Year if you take your Christmas tree down after midnight on December 31st. If you are superstitious, you may want to take the tree down before midnight on New Year's Eve to avoid any bad luck in the next year.

Why we put ornaments on Christmas trees?

Tradition states that from that moment, fir trees were brought into Christian homes, decorated in the name of Jesus. Hanging religious ornaments on a tree was a way to honor the true meaning of Christmas, Jesus Christ's birth.

Do Protestants celebrate Epiphany?

How is Epiphany celebrated? That depends on where you are and what kind of Christian you are. Most U.S. Protestants mark the day on the Sunday closest to Jan. 6 and it is usually limited to that day's church service and sermon.

Why is Epiphany on Jan 3rd?

Epiphany is a Christian holiday primarily commemorating the Magi's visit to the baby Jesus and the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist. Eastern traditions, which usually call the holiday Theophany, focus on Jesus' baptism, seen as the manifestation of Christ as both fully human and fully divine.

Who celebrates Christmas on January 6th?

During the “Armenian Christmas” season, the major events that are celebrated are the Nativity of Christ in Bethlehem and His Baptism in the River Jordan. The day of this major feast in the Armenian Church is January 6th.