While the hustle and bustle of Christmas ends for many people on 26^th December, throughout Christian history, the Christmas season lasts for twelve days – all the way until 6^th January culminating in the feast of the “Epiphany.” The name ‘Epiphany’ comes from the Greek, meaning “revelation from above”. The Epiphany celebrates the revelation of the Jesus Christ, the Jewish Messiah to the Gentile world as represented by the Three wise men from the East. While the feast focuses primarily on this revelation to the Three Wise Men, it also incorporates two other moments of Christ’s self-revelation: his baptism in the Jordan and the wedding at Cana (the first of his signs), since in each of these events Jesus manifests his Divinity.
While the traditional date for the feast is 6^th January, in Australia (as in many Western nations) the celebration of Epiphany is moved to the nearest Sunday. The Feast of Epiphany, (or in the Oriental Churches, also called the Feast of Theophany), is a very ancient feast, one that even predates the celebration of Christmas on the 25^th December. In the early Church, Christians, particularly those in the East, celebrated the advent of Christ on 6th January by commemorating the Nativity, the Visitation of the Magi, the Baptism of Christ and the Wedding of Cana all in one feast of the Epiphany. By the fourth century, both Christmas and Epiphany had been set as separate feasts in some dioceses. At the Council of Tours in 567, the Church set both Christmas day and Epiphany as feast days on Dec. 25 and Jan. 6, respectively, and named the twelve days between the feasts as the Christmas season.
Over time, the Western Church separated the remaining feasts into their own celebrations, leaving the celebration of the Epiphany to commemorate primarily the Visitation of the Magi to see the newborn Christ on Jan. 6. Meanwhile, the Eastern Churches' celebration of Theophany celebrates Christ’s baptism and is one of the holiest feast days of the liturgical calendar.
The celebration of the visitation of the Magi – whom the Bible describes as learned wise men from the East – has developed its own distinct traditions throughout the Roman Church. As part of the liturgy of the Epiphany, it is traditional to proclaim the date of Easter and other moveable feast days to the faithful – showing the link between Christ’s incarnation and his death on the cross for our redemption. Indeed, the gifts the wise men brought – gold, frankincense and myrrh – point not only to Christ’s divinity and his revelation to the Magi as the King of Kings, but also to his crucifixion. In giving myrrh, herbs traditionally used for burial, this gift anticipates the death of Christ and the empty tomb of the resurrection.
Traditionally houses were blessed on the Feast of the Epiphany, with a particular custom of inscribing the blessing with blessed chalk. Back at home, families will write on top of the entrance to the house the inscription “C+M+B+” bookended between the date of the new year.  
The letters have a double meaning. They stand for the names traditionally given to the wise men – Casper, Melchior and Balthazar – as well as for the Latin phrase “Christus mansionem benedicat,” meaning, “may Christ bless this house.” Chalk will be blessed at this weekend’s Masses for distribution, should you wish to mark your homes.
Wishing you all a happy and safe new year!
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How to bless your homes with Epiphany chalk

Using the blessed chalk mark the lintel of your front door (or front porch step) as follows:

20 + C + M + B + 24

while saying: 
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.

Then offer the following prayer:
Visit, O Divine One, 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.