`HOLY GRAFFITI' CHALKED ON DOORFRAMES

A mysterious series of letters and numbers are appearing on the doorframes of houses across England. It may look like a string of code or a complicated scientific equation, but it is merely the resurrection of a centuries-old Christian tradition, currently being touted as “holy graffiti.”

The trend for “chalking the door,” a blessing which is believed to have originated in and spread from central Europe at the end of the Middle Ages, has seen an uptake in recent weeks as people look for a sense of community in a bid to lift spirits.

Those partaking in the trend chalk their doors with the names or initials of the three wise men, or Magi, and the numerals of the New Year, connected with a series of crosses.

The initials also stand for the Latin prayer request Christus mansionem benedicat: “May Christ bless this house.”

The holy graffiti has seen huge growth amid COVID restrictions as Christians mark their doorway in a traditional Epiphany celebration.

On or near Epiphany on Jan. 6, a Christian feast day that celebrates the visit of the Magi to child Jesus, the tradition has been to ask God's blessing on homes and mark the door post with chalks that have been blessed for that purpose. House chalking's origins lie in celebration of the Epiphany, the wise men's visit to baby Jesus in Bethlehem, Christians mark their homes above the front door with chalk, as a symbol that their homes are a place where Jesus lives.

Often families say a prayer before “chalking the door”, and then mark 20+C+M+B+21. The letters “C”, “M” and “B” represent the first names of the three wise men, Caspar, Melchoir and Balthasar, who brought gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh to the baby Jesus. The numbers 20 and 21 symbolize the year, and change depending on the year, and the crosses show north, south, east and west.