January 6th is the traditional date for the celebration of the Feast of the Epiphany worldwide. However, American parishes that say the Mass in English usually celebrate it on the first Sunday after New Year's Day. The Epiphany commemorates the visit of the Magi, the three kings who brought gifts to the newborn Christ in the stable in Bethlehem.
A custom among German, Polish, Russian, and Slovak families is to have their pastors bless chalk on this day (More tomorrow about blessings). Then, with the blessed chalk, they write the numerals for the new year over their door, and the initials "CMB" in the middle of the numerals. For example, this coming Feast would be 20CMB09. "CMB" stands for the initials of the three wise men: Casper, Melchior, and Balthasar. This custom reminds those in the home to ask for the prayers of those three saints during the upcoming calendar year.
Besides being the initials of the wise men, "CMB" is also the abbreviation for the Latin phrase Christus Mansionem Benedicat (May Christ bless the home)
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