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CHURCH CUSTOM

ON THE FEAST OF THE EPIPHANY (JAN. 6), IT IS A CUSTOM AMONG ROMAN
CATHOLICS TO HAVE A PIECE OF CHALK BLESSED BY A PRIEST AND TO WRITE
OVER AN ENTRANCE TO THEIR HOUSE THE INITIALS OF THE THREE KINGS IN
THE FOLLOWING MANNER: FIRST, THE FIRST TWO NUMBERS OF THE YEAR ARE
WRITTEN, THEN A CROSS, THEN K (FOR KASPAR), CROSS, M (MELCHIOR),
CROSS, B (BALTAZAR), CROSS, THEN THE LAST TWO NUMBERS OF THE YEAR.
FOR EXAMPLE, FOR THE YEAR 1979: 19 + K + M + B + 79.
IF THIS IS DONE, IT WILL PROTECT YOUR HOME FROM BEING STRUCK BY
LIGHTNING IN THE COMING YEAR.

Submitter comment: THE SPELLINGS OF THE NAMES OF THE KINGS ARE AS GIVEN TO ME BY MY
INFORMANT.

Where learned: DETROIT

Subject headings: Favorites
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 6 Twelfth Day Epiphany
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Church
BELIEF -- Lightning Thunder
BELIEF -- Magic of Speech, Sign, Color
BELIEF -- Sign Geometric figure Cross and its various modifications

Date learned: 02-17-1979

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