Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Well, it's the season of Epiphany and while I should have chalked my door on January 6, I realized the day before that I don't know where my chalk is since I moved. So I had to order some and it came in today and I chalked the door.
I chose to put 20 + C + M + B + 22. You know what - I just like seeing that - what a reminder to be hospitable to strangers.
Anyone else do this?
When I lived in Germany 30 years ago, I saw a fabulous sight. I saw three preteen boys dressed up as the three wise men, and they were running from house to house in the frosty air, chalking the houses. The people would come outside and bring them hot cider or chocolate or something. This was in a little village. It's one of my all time favorite memories.
Nearly all the houses in southern Germany are chalked, whether they are Protestant or Catholic (it's not limited to the Catholic traditions anywhere).
Well, it's the season of Epiphany and while I should have chalked my door on January 6, I realized the day before that I don't know where my chalk is since I moved. So I had to order some and it came in today and I chalked the door.
I chose to put 20 + C + M + B + 22. You know what - I just like seeing that - what a reminder to be hospitable to strangers.
Anyone else do this?
When I lived in Germany 30 years ago, I saw a fabulous sight. I saw three preteen boys dressed up as the three wise men, and they were running from house to house in the frosty air, chalking the houses. The people would come outside and bring them hot cider or chocolate or something. This was in a little village. It's one of my all time favorite memories.
Nearly all the houses in southern Germany are chalked, whether they are Protestant or Catholic (it's not limited to the Catholic traditions anywhere).
I have never heard of this, and I am always interested in traditions.
The link showed pictures but gave no explanation for the origins or what the string of letters and numbers means.
I will look it up when I am at the computer.
ETA: For some reason, the article itself in the link that was posted didn't come up on my phone but did not my laptop. Or maybe it had to do with the addition of caffeine to my brain!
Interesting. The wikipedia post says it's a common Catholic thing. I grew up Catholic and never heard of this. Always cool to see other traditions.
The wikipedia post says this:
Quote:
Either on Twelfth Night (5 January), the twelfth day of Christmastide and eve of the feast of the Epiphany, or on Epiphany Day (6 January) itself, many Christians (including Anglicans, Lutherans, Methodists, Presbyterians and Roman Catholics, among others) write on their doors or lintels with chalk in a pattern such as "20 ✝ C ✝ M ✝ B ✝ 12", with the numbers in this example referring to the calendar year 2012 and the crosses to Christ. The letters C, M and B stand for the traditional names of the Magi (Caspar, Melchior and Balthazar), or alternatively for the Latin blessing Christus mansionem benedicat ('May Christ bless this house').[2] Another form, for Three Kings day, is to mark the door with "IIIK" (the Roman numeral three followed by "K" for "Kings").
I don't see where it states that it's a common Catholic thing. Can you please quote that part? Thanks.
I didn't grow up Catholic but I heard about it as a young woman living in Germany. Apparently it's been big there for many, many years, maybe a thousand years, who knows?
I described one of my favorite memories of some young kids dressed as the three kings running from house to house putting up the sign in chalk and the German neighbors coming outside with hot cocoa, or coffee, or cider or whatever. I honestly have no idea what the beliefs were of those people (we lived in an area that was not dominated by one particular Christian church). But they were sure happy to see those boys. It's a beautiful memory of mine.
Well, it's the season of Epiphany and while I should have chalked my door on January 6, I realized the day before that I don't know where my chalk is since I moved. So I had to order some and it came in today and I chalked the door.
I chose to put 20 + C + M + B + 22. You know what - I just like seeing that - what a reminder to be hospitable to strangers.
Anyone else do this?
When I lived in Germany 30 years ago, I saw a fabulous sight. I saw three preteen boys dressed up as the three wise men, and they were running from house to house in the frosty air, chalking the houses. The people would come outside and bring them hot cider or chocolate or something. This was in a little village. It's one of my all time favorite memories.
Nearly all the houses in southern Germany are chalked, whether they are Protestant or Catholic (it's not limited to the Catholic traditions anywhere).
Never heard of it, but it sounds very nice. I’m all for showing hospitality to strangers.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
