Chalking the Door

In many parts of the world, on Epiphany, you will see a strange formula chalked above the doors of local homes. In 2024, it would read:

20 ✝ C ✝ M ✝ B ✝ 24

The “chalking of the doors” is an Epiphany tradition. The odd formula is composed of the year and the initials of the traditional names of the Magi: Caspar, Melchior,…