Hold Up, The Three Wise Men Have Names?

[@NameExplain]

Merry Christmas!

[@davea6314]

Merry Christmas! The best Christmas song of all time is "Christmas at Ground Zero" by Weird Al Yankovic.

[@MasterGeekMX]

Here in Mexico and other latino countries the three kings bring gifts to kids on January 6th, much like Santa. This means that many of us know their names: Melchor, Gaspar and Baltazar, and collectively they are known as the three wizard kings (los tres reyes magos). Each one comes from a different part of the old world: Melchor rides a horse and it represents Europe, Gaspar rides a Camel and it represents Arabia, and Baltazar rides an elephant and represents Asia. Some parents (like mine) like to play on the fact that there is a secret fourth wizard king. It is usually unnamed, but it is often associated with the Americas.

[@MariaMartinez-researcher]

Chilean here. Baltasar coming from Asia riding an elephant is news for us - and for Franco Zeffirelli, who had the very same James Earl Jones playing Baltasar. There is always a black king in Chilean "Nacimientos."

[@fueyo2229]

Not only Latín American countries, in Spain too

[@HieMan-g1n]

Poland too. December 6th is like apetizer before Christmas.

[@lucasproductions2260]

As far as I know, Gaspar represented all of Asia (including Arabia), while Baltazar represented Africa

[@klubpingwina4336]

In Poland we write the initials K+M+B and the current year. There are no gifts, but a priest will visit each house.

[@mephitismephitis6825]

-3:50- So, an 8th century Latin translation of a "Greek text probably written in Alexandria in around 500 BC"(!) contains a "timeline of the birth of Jesus" and included names for the magi who would visit the infant. Wow! That's SOME prophecy!

[@coldhazzard]

My friends and I called them "Three," "Wise," and "Men."

[@MasterGeekMX]

In the anime Neon Genesis Evangelion, the main computer system of the NERV headquarters is called MAGI System, and it is comprised of 3 neural supercomputers with a literal brain inside that vote on decisions based on their personality bias. Each is named after one of the kings, and represent different aspects of it's creator: Dr. Naoko Akagi: Casper-Magi 3 as Naoko the Woman, Balthasar-Magi 2 as Naoko the Scientist, and Melchoir-Magi 1 as Naoko the Mother.

[@Bodabodabroadcast]

Same, that's where I actually learnt their names from.

[@lewatoaofair2522]

Though I’ve seen Evangelion, I actually learned the names through Chrono Trigger. And they’re actual characters who play guiding roles. (But Casper is Gaspar.)

[@JannPoo]

The RPG Xenogears also has 3 characters named after them. One of them even has a great granddaughter named Maria Balthasar that becomes a playable character.

[@Rolly90]

In Germany almost everybody know their Names because at 6th of January children dressed as the 3 kings go from door to door to sing songs and collect Money.

[@Schampu4000]

Are you confusing something? I've lived here all my life and never once heard about children going from door to door on January 6th. The only thing I know that's close to that is Rummelpottlaufen.

[@namenamename390]

@@Schampu4000 Maybe it's a regional thing. I have heard about what the person you replied to is talking about, so it definitely exists here. Actually, it might be a catholic/protestant devide thing, that's still fairly pronounced in Germany.

[@huhusmremre]

​@@namenamename390I'd assume it might be an Eastern Germany thing since we celebrate the exact same way in Poland. January 6th, kids going door to door dressed as the Three Kings, caroling and collecting change.

[@namenamename390]

@huhusmremre I suspected it was an east/west thing as well, but I saw this happen near the Dutch border, so it isn't that.

[@bruh_moment]

@@namenamename390 i agree that it’s probably a religious divide. Outside of Europe, I am aware that in Mexico, one of the largest Catholic nations, they celebrate something similar on that day. Kids leave there shoes out and receive gifts and there is also dessert bread with a figure of baby Jesus inside. The bread is parted and whoever gets the baby piece is tasked with hosting a feast day in february

[@kse3]

In the game Chrono Trigger, there are three gurus named Melchior (Guru of Life), Belthasar (Guru of Reason), and Gaspar (Guru of Time).

[@ferretyluv]

That’s probably because of Eva (they came out the same year).

[@mayuri4184]

I thought of Chrono Trigger when I saw this video. Such a revolutionary game, one may think it came out very recently.

[@nl_morrison]

CASPAR THE FRIENDLY WISEMAN

[@DiamandaHagan]

I remember years ago the Daily Mail was complaining about secularism and mentioned kids not knowing the 3 Wise Men's names as evidence of some weird rot. There was me, not knowing they even had names but knowing that the Bible didn't say there were 3 of them, just that they brought 3 gifts.

[@zyxw2000]

The Daily Mail isn't a reputable newspaper.

[@DiamandaHagan]

@@zyxw2000 I know. It was funny that they thought it was important that people didn;t know the names of 3 the guys who were never named in the book, or even numbered.

[@grahamohea2424]

We three kings of Orient far, Tried to smoke a rubber cigar, It was loaded and it exploded, And it shot one of us far

[@zer0tr3s12]

As someone who grew up speaking Spanish, I had no idea that English speakers didn't know these names.

[@fnjesusfreak]

My native language is English and I absolutely did, but then, I prolly had a wider exposure to Christian traditions than a lot of us.

[@ferretyluv]

It’s the Protestantism.

[@azarishiba2559]

Me too (Costa Rican here), and I'm not Christian, but it's somewhat common hearing here the Tres Reyes Magos' names in carols, even if in Costa Rica January 6th is not such a big celebration. I'm surprised to know some people didn't know their names o.o

[@kalina5823]

Kacper, Melchior i Baltazar, Polish person here. And we call them The Three Kings, without any mention of wisdom or magic. We write their initials on our door with blessed chalk, as someone's already mentioned.

[@King-of-Cheeseland]

In France we call them the “Rois Mages” (Mage Kings), and their names are Balthazar, Gaspard and Melchior. I thought their names were better known among English speakers! Also- funny that you’re coming back on January 6th, that’s the date of the Epiphany, when the Wise Men arrive in Bethlehem and present their gifts to Jesus! In France we celebrate this with a Galette des Rois, a cake with a little figure hidden in it, a tradition I believe has a lot of similar variations across various Christian countries/cultures

[@10hawell]

In Poland we write K+M+B (date) over the doors, it's hilarious you didn't know their names.

[@eypandabear7483]

In Germany we write C+M+B but I was told by a priest that this doesn’t stand for the three names, but for “Christus mansionem benedicat” - “May Christ bless this home”. That doesn’t work with a K.

[@BadgerOfTheSea]

Sometimes I forget not everyone went to Catholic school and had to study the lives of even the most niche bible character

[@mrJety89]

From hungarian tradition, Gáspár, Menyhért, Boldizsár

[@ShawnRavenfire]

Every year on Three Kings Day, my grandmother used to mark the initials of the Magi, K+M+B, above the front door with blessed chalk in order to protect the house from harm and bring good fortune throughout the year.

[@TakaD20]

Huey, Dewey, and Louie

[@johnburnside7828]

Have a happy holiday! The 6th of January is Epiphany, which is traditionally when the Magi arrived and Jesus as Christ was made known to the world.

[@meias.]

It's funny, this is common knowledge where I live in Switzerland. On the 6th of January, we celebrate Dreikönigstag - the day of the three kings. Usually, the church then sends people into the towns and villages that give out the blessing of the three kings in the form of the date and the initials of the kings written on top of the doorframe, something like C*M*B 2024 for example

[@lagavulin7194]

Same in Germany. I thought this was common knowledge

[@Joe-Przybranowski]

My German grandmother would write their names on the inside of the front door during the Xmas season.

[@uncipaws7643]

another interpretation is "Christus mansionem benedicat"

[@ferretyluv]

All the comments are saying this is common knowledge in Catholic countries.

[@marvelfan3148]

Thanks so much for this video, loved the We Three Kings carol background accompaniment! Had never stopped to think where those names might have come from, but as a Christian, I also thank you for speaking really respectfully about my faith - a very merry Christmas to you and looking forward to more NameExplain in 2025!

[@Walter-WhiteMacchiato-2000]

Like Germans and Polish people, here in Philippines the names are well known because we have "Belens" or dioramas of Bethlehem so the 3 Kings are a common sight during Xmas, naturally their names will be well known.

[@AqEva]

Your belens are also known in Poland as "szopka" :)

[@dansattah]

That's news to me, so thanks and happy holidays! Growing up in Germany, most Christmas themed media was (or at least felt) saturated with the names Caspar, Melchior, and Balthazar, who we call "The Three Holy Kings".

[@galaxyn3214]

General Lew Wallace was inspired to write *Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ* partially because of his interest in the Three Wise men.

[@spudgunn8695]

"We 3 kings of orient are, one in a taxi, one in a car, one on a scooter tooting his hooter, following yonder star!" As sung in Anstey junior school in Hampshire, England , 1979! (Yes, I'm that old, I was one of the dozen or so singing it)

[@mage1over137]

It's weird that three Wiseman were named after my favorite NPC's in Chrono Trigger.

[@mr.saturn7703]

Wait i thought their names were teached in kindergarden, at least here in Portugal youre taught their names, Baltazar, Gaspar and Melchior. Always thought this was common knowledge

[@JF-vw9lv]

Of course they have names. Wiseman Numero Uno. Wiseman Number Two Electric Bugaloo. Wiseman Mike

[@thedrunkenrebel]

way back then, people didnt necessarily have names, but rather nicknames, like arabs later would have had you wouldnt refer to someone by their name, but by their relationship to something, like "the treasurer, the son of X, the father of X" etc those sound like titles, not proper names, because keep in mind christianity was bad back then, so whoever wrote the books had to conceal identities to protect the people involved, thus refering them by generic names like "the treasurer"

[@TheLobsterCopter5000]

Then entered in those wise men three Fell reverently upon their knee And offered there in his presence Their gold and myrrh and frankincense Nowell, nowell, nowell, nowell Born is the king of Israel.

[@danielmalinen6337]

In Finland they are called the "Itämaan viisaat tietäjät" (in English the "Wise Sages of the Eastern Land"). And the names of the three "kings" are the same but appear in localized forms as Kasper, Melkor and Baltasaar. We also have a Christmas tradition in Finland called Tiernapojat, which is a sung Christmas play consisting of four actors and about two to three hundred years old. There is King Herod, who calls himself a hussar and a brave soldier, the Knight or "Knihti", who is a servant of Herod, the Star or "Mänkki", who announces the birth of the savior, and then there is the King of the Moors, the leader of the wise men, who doesn't like that Herod is a tyrant and is at war with him. There are interesting interpretations in the play, such as that the gifts of the Magi were originally intended as a propitiation for Herod so that he would be reconciled. But because Herod rejects the wise men, they took the gifts to the "new king of Judea" whose birth the star announces.

[@marvelfan3148]

"Wise Sages of the Eastern Land" - that is so much more fun than Three Wise Men!

[@nickimontie]

Merry Christmas, Pat and all here who celebrate!

[@revinhatol]

GASPAR MELCHOR BALTASAR

[@Benjey657]

I've heard that the three wise men came from europe, asia and africa respectivley to represent the three known continents at that time.

[@rayelgatubelo]

Nobody can agree on where each one of them is from. Usually Balthasar is the black one, but in some places like Puerto Rico, it's Melchior.

[@RK-cj4oc]

I have never s​een any of the wise men depicted as black. At most looking like an arab with black hair and tanned skin.@@rayelgatubelo

[@jonnyOysters]

@ 4:01 Do you mean 500AD? Why would there be documentation of Christ 500 years before he was born?

[@felipesancho]

Gaspar, Baltazar y Melchor

[@tommay6590]

3:43 "from an earlier greek text of 500 BC" BC??? Did you not mean AD?

[@EJJunkill]

Happy Christmas Patrick!

[@amycantwell8715]

ASHA IS !!! Good thoughts Good words Good deeds

[@romad275]

Don't forget Artaban, The Other Wise Man!

[@LuisCaneSec]

When I was young I was in a choir that performed Amahl and the Night Visitors, a play about a shepherd boy who's home the 3 wise men stop by to rest during their travels. I remember Caspar being the more eccentric of the three with a memorable song about a box he always travels with that has three drawers with little treasures like beads and licorice. He seemed like a fun guy.

[@scloftin8861]

The magi have always been my favorite Christmas themes, so yeah, I knew the names, Balthazar, Melchior ... and ... and ... I'd forgotten the third one. Watched Amal and the Night Visitors several times over the 60s and 70s. And Epiphany or 12th Night is celebrated in New Orleans and segues into the whole Carnival celebration with the Crewes and parades between 12th Night and Lent.

[@mingfanzhang8927]

Good 😌

[@mingfanzhang4600]

😊

[@WatanabeNoTsuna.]

Of course they do! It's Huey, Dewey, and Louie.

[@davea6314]

Merry Christmas! The best Christmas song of all time is "Christmas at Ground Zero" by Weird Al Yankovic.

[@VideoGraham]

That was a really interesting video.Thank you Patrick and have a great Christmas!🎄

[@dracone4370]

This reminded me of an animated movie called "The Other Wise Man," which features a 4th figure who kept chasing after Christ to give him a gift of precious stones and only found him at a certain point in the Bible's narrative.

[@jensschroder8214]

The three wisemen. Was there really three? And what were their names of the magicians? That is unknown. And the wisemen never met the shepherds at the manger. By then the shepherds had long since returned to the sheep. About a fiancée who becomes pregnant before marriage. Up to a groom who wants to run away before the wedding. This story is full of secrets.

[@arthurbriand2175]

Their names are Gaspard, Balthazar and Melchior and they are supposed to be persian magii.

[@jasonellis7874]

Magi also refers to the priests of the Zoroastrian faith, which also has a story of a messiah who would be born from a virgin woman.

[@DS-dj2od]

People who watched Evangelion really enjoying this one

[@kennethbaxter2877]

What about the fact that 6 January is also considered Old Christmas. This day marks the 12th day after Christmas, the celebration of the epiphany and apparently the original date of Christmas under the Julian calendar before switching over to the Gregorian calendar.

[@HieMan-g1n]

OMG he didn't know he didn't know. The culture clash is real!

[@Defektyd]

New Christmas lore just dropped. Happy holidays!

[@maurobraunstein9497]

The Three Wise Men were obviously named after the three Gurus from Chrono Trigger: the Guru of Life, Melchior, the Guru of Reason, Belthasar, and the Guru of Time, Gaspar. That's how you can tell the ancient hagiographers played JRPGs.

[@MariankGonzalez]

They didn't even get to the stable, they came into the house when Jesus was about 2 years old. There were three gifts, but as far as how many men, the Bible doesn't say how many. I wish we would know how many and the other details though, but I'm glad Matthew at least mentioned them so we know about them.

[@grugnotice7746]

So many parts of the gospel were geared toward fulfilling prophesy that there is really no limit to that. The whole thing is definitely real as attested to by the Shroud of Turin which shows the fully effects of the Passion plus an application of magic that to this day is unexplainable outside of "God did it".This simply implies that that some supernatural power bent the naming conventions of those kings. Such things seem trivial for a God.

[@RadekLazok]

Hold up, someone can not know their names?

[@martinsriber7760]

This is the guy who was surprised cat breeds are a thing...

[@RadekLazok]

@martinsriber7760 no....

[@RadekLazok]

@martinsriber7760 I m not english speaker so its maybe different bc like everybody here knows their names and dont say three wise man but says their names

[@10hawell]

He's most probably a (ewww) Protestant.

[@balaam_7087]

Missed opportunity here. You should do a video about how the term ‘magi’ from Aramaic magoi (root of English words magic, mage, magician etc) is a far more accurate term to describe the unknown number of these so called ‘wise men’.

[@melissahealy1950]

or as he’s coming back on the 6th of jan he should do one about the word epiphany

[@uncipaws7643]

Maggi, immer eine gute Suppe

[@highpath4776]

Problem is Revelation (and I think Islam ) instructs either Put to Death he who practices Magic/ Magicians wont get into heaven ( along with those who could have done something good and looked away and did nothing ). Old Testament also says Astrology should not be followed , only God who created the stars and planets to mark time, not predict the future (and presumably the present ). A couple of thoughts on Magic - one is illusion - should people profit from decit / creating fear in others exhorting money from them say ? And does it me "Science/Herbalism" - not really clear - to me both science research and demonstration is ok , likewise the use of plants for good as that seems indicated as ok elsewhere in the bible (but not poisionous brews and probably not mind altering drugs natural and synthetic other than for pain relief ).

[@ferretyluv]

He did.

[@norbertopineda4331]

I find ironic for this video, that you mentioned that your coming back on January 6th. That's when in Latin America we celebrate the Three wisemen.

[@GCrocker662]

The Biblical account doesn't say any number of "wise men".

[@mahiru20ten]

"Da behbe jeezuz" - Jeremy Clarkson

[@xtusvincit5230]

A catholic knows this and puts their initials over his front door.

[@MartinAhlman]

And it all worked out well! Hang on...

[@mingfanzhang4600]

😊😊😊

[@mingfanzhang8927]

😊

[@kailomonkey]

3:50 You mean 500 AD/CE ... Unless the parts about Jesus' life were prophetic :P

[@Chance_Rice]

AD is better than CE

[@kailomonkey]

@Chance_Rice great letters

[@stevierv22]

@Chance_Rice AC/DC is even better

[@marschallblucher6197]

The magi part is really intriguing since Zoroastrianism is an _extreamly_ old religion and is likely the source of inspiration for many aspects of Christianity and the Jewish religion.

[@highpath4776]

Main difference I think is that in one God is the source of Good and Evil equally, in Christianity God has a benevolence to his followers generally , with Evil arising from a different source ).

[@marschallblucher6197]

@highpath4776 In Zoroastrianism there's The Ahura Mazda which is the Lord of wisdom and all that is good, who is opposed by Angra manu (Probably misspelt) who is a Lord and chaos and suffering and evil. That last one is likely the inspiration for the Devil in Christian beliefs. Along with the beliefs of heaven and hell.

[@kijekuyo9494]

I'll go with the Zoroastrian explanation. An unspecified number of magi, all from Persia with names later affixed by writers that wanted to flesh them out.

[@AaronJediKnight]

The Baal in Balthazar is, quite curiously, the storm deity of the babylonians, portrayed in the OT as God's prime rival in terms of worship. But just like El, the name was used too as the Lord or Lord. So the name may also be translated as The Lord Protects the King.

[@SeekingTheLoveThatGodMeans7648]

It might be like we make a distinction between god and God, though having both uppercase and lowercase letters to do it with. Hebrew, not having such letter forms, would result in a more ambiguous situation.

[@andywap3]

To my knowledge, the Bible never said that there were three wise men. It never said the exact amount of wise men, but listed three gifts they brought. That being gold, frankincense and myrrh.

[@gigagian]

My favorite of the Three Wise Men names' is "Balthazar" simply because it's fun to say.

[@lmcatalan]

In Argentina (and most of the Spanish speaking world) we are thought the name of the three magi when we are children.

[@ElicuuKit]

Wow! I actuallt knew this because when I was in elementary school in the beginning of the 2000s we used to sing a song about three wise men. Translated in English it would go like: Melchior, Caspar and Balthazar - Three kings, Three Magis...Melchior, Caspar and Balthazar Searching the king about to be born..." Until now I just thought they were made up names for that religious childrens song!!

[@theGypsyViking]

Walking from India to Bethlehem without any cooking, hunting, camping, shopping time, or navigational errors would take three months. What 20-year-old king has six months to spare on a hike?

[@SeekingTheLoveThatGodMeans7648]

51 days by foot from Mumbai/Bombay to Bethlehem per Google Maps, but I don't know what the roads would have been like.

[@lewatoaofair2522]

Title: They have names? Me, who knows Neon Genesis Evangelion and Chrono Trigger: Duh!

[@gabriellavedier9650]

These guys are huge in Hispanic countries, because of Dia de los Reyes, day of the Kings, on January 6, the 12th day of Christmas. Twelfth night. They have crazy expanded lore, including personalized animals (A horse, a camel, and an elephant) and all. And you're supposed to leave feed for the animals as well as for the Kings.

[@SeekingTheLoveThatGodMeans7648]

Could one or more of these have had caravans accompanying them. I'd hate to have to feed an elephant on such a journey sans provisions.

[@StarlasAiko]

Just another example of fanfic being declared canon. Same happened with the Lilith story, Paradise Lost and Dante's Inferno.

[@teri2466]

Walthazar, Bobalthazar, fee-fi-fo-falthazar. 😹

[@Mythilt]

And one of the three magi then went on to corrupt the Maia Mairon before being banish to the great void by the assembled armies of Man, Elf, and Valar....

[@oz25]

What's the name of the cigar smoking one, with the scooter? 🚬 🛴👑

[@R3nnan]

Every neon Genesis evangelion fan already knew their names

[@guillemtortajada4588]

Me being spanish seeing that title: excuse me? :/

[@kingbeauregard]

Hardrock, Coco, and Joeeeeeee

[@soldierofkek687]

Well that kinda answered where they really came from

[@Joe-Przybranowski]

My grandmother would write their names on the inside of the front door during the Xmas season growing up. Balthazar, Melchoir, and I don't remember the other one.. srry its been like 50 years.

[@10hawell]

Inside? Shouldn't it be outside to show you're a devoted Christian? Also shouldn't it be done by priest during pastoral visit? Or at least with consecrated chalk?

[@Threetails]

I thought Balthazar came from "Belteshazzar" meaning "servant of Baal?"

[@wheressteve]

Are you trying to tell me that some or all of the people in the Bible weren't actual real live human beings ???

[@UnfriendlyGhostK]

My name is Kaspar, spelt with a K (i.e. correctly) and my friends would not describe me as a wise man.

[@romad275]

Perhaps they use "Wise Guy"? 😉

[@DilutedH2SO4]

Only know one cus I was Balthasar in my primary schools nativity xD

[@Jan-j9v]

Wen die jungfräuliche Ehefrau bei der Geburt plötzlich von drei Männern Besuch bekommt...

[@DrunkenMalkavian]

Everyone knows their names in Poland - must be a Catholic thing. And they are referred to as "The Three Kings" in here as well.

[@nooneofconsequence3847]

Jack Daniels, Johnny Walker, and Jim Beam are what I call them

[@LadyCathryn]

The Bible DOES NOT give their names so any names given yo them is speculation not truth.

[@l0lLorenzol0l]

Well yeah? Is this some sort of Protestant thing? I was raised Catholic and they told us it was Gaspar, Baltazar and Melchior.

[@ChrisW101]

Wait, y'all weren't taught their names? To be fair I forgot them but I knew we had em!

[@marcylynn3703]

And acording to the popular song Balthazar is black

[@redeadbone9007]

Good soup.

[@uncipaws7643]

Magi or Maggi?

[@myragroenewegen5426]

Who can write the best strictly biblical absurdist story about these three? Given all the information that isn't in the accepted bible and comes from creativity, convenience, conjecture, and tradition - It'd be great fun to stretch it as far off of our current lore as biblically possible, cackling mischievously. Not that the Bible,or the Christmas story is particularly rock solid factually, but for the sake of argument... So there were, fifteen of these guys,which made them quietly returning to their own lands without contact with Herod's government a Christmas miracle - -and also explains why they listened to the warning from God not to return to Herod, after they all had exactly the same prophetic dream. Also, none of them are monarchs. Instead they are a band of star-gazing mystics all from the same Jewish-faith-curious community a ways East of Bethlehem. They live in a giant compound in some remote hill in a land East of Bethlehem, where their cult lives happily as traders and mystic scholars.

[@sweeterstuff]

4:32 WD

[@povilzem]

Wait, there are people who don't know their names?