There is a custom which in some folks use chalk to write above the home’s entrance, the initials of the traditional names of the Three Kings. It is known as “Chalking the Door.” This custom traditionally involves blessing a home. I have been told that “Chalking the Door” is most often observed after sunset during an Epiphany family feast.
I continue to run into references about this custom…possibly because each January I frequently wish sundry friends, “Feliz Dia de los Tres Reyes Magos!” and “Bonne fete Trois Rois!” The family of my Latino friends were not familiar with "Chalking the Door," but I understand some people practice the custom in New Orleans, putting the mark over the door of their private residence. It doesn't seem to be widely practiced.
I admit it seems a little odd that I run into references to "Chalking the Door," because the custom originally seems to be a product of Germanic Christian practice, which apparently hopped over into English practice. I first read about it in a Episcopalian home-practice book discussing Twelfth Night and Epiphany celebrations ages ago. I was intrigued by the custom back then.
Since it is the Feast of the Three Kings, I decided to write up something as a blessing for the feast honoring the three pagan kings whose adoration theologically represented that the baby Jesus, the King of Kings, ruled over the kings of the gentiles. Though I have not found any reference to this custom associated with African American folk system hoodoo, I have finally decided to put something about it on my own page here. I have seen prayer candles for the Three Kings sold in magical supply stores, so somebody must be buying those candles. Certainly hoodoo practitioners who are also Catholic do incorporate portions of their Catholicism into their practice.
“Chalking the Door"
A Blessing for the Home to Celebrate the Feast of the Three Kings
This short devotion can accompany the marking a home, usually outside or inside over top the main entrance, with symbols to petition a blessing upon those who live, work, and/or visit a home dwelling (condos, apartments and houses) throughout the coming year, even after the chalk is gone. Before starting the devotion--if the family members wish--a prayer candle and Three Kings incense may be lit. The Three Kings incense can be used to cense around the room and door. The hymn, "We Three Kings," may be sung, especially if the family's children enjoy singing.
Leader: Peace be to this house! And to all who live here! May all who enter here find the same gracious hospitality through the year, that we offer to the Kings who bring us their blessings!
All: May the kings bless our home!
Chalk is used to mark a blessing near the entrance.
?? + G + M + B + ??
The four-digit number of the year is divided two digits before the letters and two digits after the the letters. To mark the spots of the digits I have typed question marks. The equal armed crosses (+) indicate the protection of the Trinity.
The three letters are the initials of the names traditionally assigned to the Three Kings: “Gaspar,” “Melchior,” and “Balthasar.” In Spanish, the names of Tres Reyes Magos are spelled, "Gaspar," "Melchor," and "Baltasar." In French, their names are spelled “Gaspard,” “Melchior,” and “Balthazar.” In Italian, their names are spelled “Gaspare,” “Melchiorre,” and “Baldassarre.”
In English, the more common spelling of the first king’s name is “Caspar”--though I have seen the name spelled in English sources with a G. Most English speaking Christians use C instead of G when ”Chalking the Door.” In that case, the letters are C + M + B.
In Germany--interestingly--the names of the Heilige Drei Konige (Holy Three Kings) are spelled “Kaspar,” “Melchior,” and “Balthasar”--or sometimes spelled as “Caspar,” “Melchior,” and “Balthasar.” The custom of “Chalking the Door” is a well-known custom in parts of Germany and Austria.
According to Al Ridenour, author of The Krampus and the Old, Dark Christmas: Roots and Rebirth of the Folkloric Devil , 2016, discussed the original German custom on p.171:
As well as fumigating all corners, above all doors , and even the pigsty, an inscription is traditionally chalked for further protection over all who enter. Usually, this took the form of the letters K, M, and B joined with crosses and sandwiched within numerals representing the years, so for 2016: “20 + K + M + B + 16.” The letters are said to represent the Magi’s traditional names: Melchior, Balthasar, and Caspar (German: Kaspar). Sometimes the letters may be altered as C + M + B, more recently said to represent the Latin Christus Mansionem Benedicat (Christ bless the house) or K + M + B, inserting the Greek Kyrios (“Lord”) into the formula. The inscription is to remain over all doors until the following Twelfth Night. Sometimes, a pentagram may also be drawn over animal pens as additional insurance against the Drude and other evils.Thus, if anyone prefers to use German, put the four-digit number of the year with two digits before and two after the letters, K, M, B, separated with equal armed crosses (+). To mark the spots of the digits I have again typed question marks.
?? + K + M + B + ??
Another source explained this Dreikonigstag (Three Kings Day) custom:
At some point, the three Wise Men became intermingled with the ancient pagan custom of writing protective spells onto the door frames of houses. In the 16th century, “Sternsinger” became a popular Catholic tradition. Reenacting the Magi’s journey towards the star that shone in the east, they carried crowns, frankincense, and a star from door to door, singing songs or reciting poems or prayers at each house. They also wrote the letters C + M + B, followed by the year, with consecrated chalk onto the door frame of each house to protect the house and its inhabitants from evil. In return, the “star singers” received gifts from the homeowners. Some sources claim that the letters have always stood for Caspar, Melchior, and Balthasar… January 6: Dreikonigstag—Three Kings Day, accessed 1/6/2017[This section still under construction. Subtitle needed.]
In English-language Christian liturgy books I have found slightly different directions for the custom. In High Espiscopal and Catholic liturgy a priest is always described as blessing the chalk for church members during a service. The church members take home the blessed chalk for their home devotion later. Not every set of directions mentioned that. Otherwise, the home devotion involved the same core idea behind the custom. Someone--usually the head of the household--led this home devotion and was designate the leader. Often the instructions suggested the leader reading aloud Matthew 2:19 and reciting variour prayers. There might be something like a call and response or hymns.
Then the leader either recites the blessing upon the home while s/he uses the blessed chalk to write the inscription upon the door lintel. One set of instructions indicated the mark can be made on the front doorstep. Another set indicated the inscription must only be "near the entrance."
I decided to randomly share different Christian instructions for the custom.
This call and response is an Episcopalian blessing by the priest at a service during which the chalk is blessed.
V. Our help is the name of the Lord.At a family's home, often the instructions of Christian liturgy instructed folks to read aloud Matthew 2:9-11 and recite some prayers, including the Lord's Prayer.
R. Who hath made heaven and earth.
V. The Lord be with you.
R. And with thy spirit.Let us pray. 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. Amen.
And the chalk is sprinkled with Holy Water.
The Methodists suggest that it would be appropriate to include the singing of hymns or specific stanzas of hymns from The United Methodist Hymnal:
217, "Away in a Manger" (stanza 3)Here's another example of a prayer that may be recited as part of the devotion.
219, "What Child Is This" (stanza 3)
220, "Angels from the Realms of Glory" (stanza 3)
221, "In the Bleak Midwinter" (stanza 4)
222, "Nino Lindo"
223, "Break Forth, O Beauteous Heavenly Light" (stanza 3) 244, " 'Twas in the Moon of Wintertime" (stanza 3)
245, "The First Noel"
254, "We Three Kings"
Leader: Let us pray. Bless, O Lord God almighty, this home, that in it there may be health, purity, the strength of victory, humility, goodness and mercy, the fulfillment of Thy law, and thanksgiving to God the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. May this blessing remain upon this home and upon all who dwell herein. May we never forget Christ is present in the love and care we manifest to each other daily. May all who come rejoice to find Christ living among us as we seek and serve, in everyone we meet, that same Jesus who is Thine incarnate Word. Through Christ our Lord.Another example of a prayer and response. In this version, the leader seems to be speaking as he is writing the letters and numbers over the door. It also explains the chalk may be of any color--apparently white is not required.All: Amen.
Leader: Peace be to this house and to all who enter here.Here is yet another version:Let us pray. O God, who by the guidance of a star didst on this day manifest Thine only-begotten Son to the Gentiles, mercifully grant that we who know Thee by faith may also attain the vision of Thy glorious majesty. Through Christ our Lord.
All: Amen.
The Leader now marks with the blessed chalk upon the lintel of the front door.
Leader: The Magi, C Caspar, M Melchior, B and Balthasar came from the east to Bethlehem to adore the Lord. They went into the house, and when they saw the child with His mother Mary, they knelt down and worshiped him. They brought out their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh, and presented them to Him.
All: And the Gentiles shall walk in Thy light and kings in the splendor of Thy rising, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon thee.
Leader: The Lord is with you;One set of instructions was vague, but seemed to imply that the prayer leader did not have to be the same person who marked the door. This particular set of instructions broke up the speech of the leader, to indicate it could be spoken by the same or different people.All: And also with you.
Leader: Peace be to this house and to all who live, work, and visit here.
The three wise men came to Bethlehem in search of the Lord. They brought to him precious gifts: gold to honor the newborn king, incense to the true God in human form, and myrrh to anoint his body, which one day would die like our own.All: Amen.
Leader: Peace be to this house and to all who enter here.This example is interesting, because it suggests family members holding hands in a circle, or raising their hands in praise during prayer.Leader: A reading from Proverbs: “By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established; through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures.”
Leader: Let us pray: Gracious God, as a shining star once guided the magi to the birthplace of the infant Jesus, so enable those who dwell here to be your light in the world; through Jesus Christ we pray.
All: Amen.
Leader: A reading from Isaiah: “The effect of righteousness is peace, and the result of righteousness, quietness and trust forever. My people will abide in a peaceful habitation, in secure dwellings, and quiet places.”These are three Catholic prayers. The first is the prayer recited by the priest at mass.People may join hands, or extend their hands outward and upward in praise for the prayers.
Leader: Let us pray: Sovereign God, we pray that you will bless this home and all who live here with your gracious presence, that your love may be our inspiration, your wisdom our guide, your truth our light, and your peace our benediction; through Jesus Christ we pray.
All: Amen.
Leader: Lord, remember your children and teach us to pray:
All recite the Lord's Prayer. People may make the sign of the cross in remembrance of their baptism.
Leader: May the Lord watch + over our going out and our coming in, from this time forth and forevermore.
All: Amen.
A call and response follows.
V. Our help is the name of the Lord:
R. The maker of heaven and earth.
V. The Lord shall watch over your going out and your coming in:
R. From this time forth for evermore.
V. The Lord be with you.
R. And also with you.Leader: Let us pray.
Loving God, bless this chalk which you have created, that it may be helpful to your people; and grant that through the invocation of your most Holy Name all who use it in faith to write upon the doors of their homes the names of your saints, Caspar, Melchior, and Balthazar, may receive health of body and protection of soul for all who dwell in or visit their home; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
All: Amen.
Loving God, bless this chalk which you have created, that it may be helpful to your people; and grant that through the invocation of your most Holy Name that we who use it in faith to write upon the door of our home the names of your holy kings, Caspar, Melchior, and Balthazar, may receive health of body and protection of soul for all who dwell in or visit our home; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.Here is another example.At home, the following prayer is repeated as the markings are made: The three Wise Men, Caspar, Melchior, and Balthazar followed the star of God’s Son who became man. May Christ bless our home and remain with us throughout the new year. Amen.
The final prayer: Visit, O blessed Lord, this home with the gladness of your presence. Bless all who live or visit here with the gift of your love; and grant that we may manifest your love to each other and to all whose lives we touch. May we grow in grace and in the knowledge and love of you; guide, comfort, and strengthen us in peace, O Jesus Christ, now and forever. Amen.
A person using the blessed chalk marks the lintel of the front door. Then the leader speaks.copyright January 6, 2017 Myth WoodlingLeader: The three Wise Men, Caspar, Melchior, and Balthazar followed the star of God’s Son who became human two thousand and thirteen years ago. May Christ bless our home and remain with us throughout the new year. Amen.
This prayer is recited:
Visit, O blessed Lord, this home with the gladness of your presence. Bless all who live or visit here with the gift of your love; and grant that we may manifest your love to each other and to all whose lives we touch. May we grow in grace and in the knowledge and love of you; guide, comfort, and strengthen us in peace, O Jesus Christ, now and for ever. Amen.
"T" for "Three Kings Incense" in Roots and Stuff
"T" for "Tres Res Magos" in Roots and Stuff
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