document_title: Age of candidacy

question_text: minimum age requirement for vice president in india

text: Age of candidacy

text: Controversies[edit]

text: The examples and perspective in this article deal primarily with the United States and do not represent a worldwide view of the subject. You may improve this article, discuss the issue on the talk page, or create a new article, as appropriate. (December 2016) (Learn how and when to remove this template message)

text: Many youth rights groups view current age of candidacy requirements as unjustified age discrimination.[2] Occasionally people who are younger than the minimum age will run for an office in protest of the requirement or because they don't know that the requirement exists. On extremely rare occasions, young people have been elected to offices they do not qualify for and have been deemed ineligible to assume the office.

text: In 1934, Rush Holt of West Virginia was elected to the Senate of the United States at the age of 29. Since the U.S. Constitution requires senators to be at least 30, Holt was forced to wait until his 30th birthday, six months after the start of the session, before being sworn in.[3]

text: In 1954, Richard Fulton won election to the Tennessee Senate. Shortly after being sworn in, Fulton was ousted from office because he was only 27 years old at the time. The Tennessee State Constitution required that senators be at least 30.[4] Rather than hold a new election, the previous incumbent, Clifford Allen, was allowed to resume his office for another term. Fulton went on to win the next State Senate election in 1956 and was later elected to the US House of Representatives where he served for 10 years.

text: In South Carolina, two Senators aged 24 were elected, but were too young according to the State Constitution: Mike Laughlin in 1969 and Bryan Dorn (later a US Congressman) in 1941. They were seated anyway.[5]

text: On several occasions, the Socialist Workers Party (USA) has nominated candidates too young to qualify for the offices they were running for. In 1972, Linda Jenness ran as the SWP presidential candidate, although she was only 31 at the time. Since the U.S. Constitution requires that the President and Vice President be at least 35 years old, Jenness was not able to receive ballot access in several states in which she otherwise qualified.[6] Despite this handicap, Jenness still received 83,380 votes.[7] In 2004, the SWP nominated Arrin Hawkins as the party's vice-presidential candidate, although she was only 28 at the time. Hawkins was also unable to receive ballot access in several states due to her age.[8]

text: Reform efforts[edit]

text: In the United States, many groups have attempted to lower age of candidacy requirements in various states. In 1994, South Dakota voters rejected a ballot measure that would have lowered the age requirements to serve as a State Senator or State Representative from 30 to 18. In 1998, however, they approved a similar ballot measure that reduced the age requirements for those offices from 25 to 21. In 2002, Oregon voters rejected a ballot measure that would have reduced the age requirement to serve as a State Representative from 21 to 18.

text: During the early 2000s, the British Youth Council and other groups successfully campaigned to lower age of candidacy requirements in the United Kingdom.[9] The age of candidacy was reduced from 21 to 18 in England, Wales and Scotland on 1 January 2007,[10] when section 17 of the Electoral Administration Act 2006 entered into force.[11]

text: In various countries[edit]

text: Australia[edit]

text: In Australia a person must be aged 18 or over to stand for election to public office at federal, state or local government level.

text: The youngest ever member of the House of Representatives was 20-year-old Wyatt Roy elected in the 2010 federal election after the Electoral Act 1918 was amended (in 1973) to reduce the age of candidacy for that office from 21 to 18.[citation needed]

text: Austria[edit]

text: In Austria, a person must be 18 years of age or older to stand in elections to the European Parliament or National Council.[12]  The Diets of regional Länder are able to set a minimum age lower than 18 for candidacy in elections to the Diet itself as well as to municipal councils in the Land.[13]  In presidential elections the candidacy age is 35.

text: Belgium[edit]

text: Any Belgian who has reached the age of 18 years can stand for election for the Chamber of Representatives, can become a member of the Senate, or can be elected in one of the regional parliaments.[citation needed] This is regulated in the Constitution (Art. 64) and in the Special Law on the Reform of the Institutions.

text: Belize[edit]

text: According to the Constitution of Belize, a person must be at least 18 years old to be elected as a member of the House of Representatives and must be at least 30 to be Speaker of the House. A person must be at least 18 years old to be appointed to the Senate and must be at least 30 to be President or Vice-President of the Senate. As only members of the House of Representatives are eligible to be appointed Prime Minister, the Prime Minister must be at least 18 years old. A person must also be at least 18 years old to be elected to a village council.[14]

text: Brazil[edit]

text: The Brazilian Constitution (Article 14, Section 3 (VI)) defines 35 years as the minimum age for someone to be elected President, Vice-President or Senator; 30 years for state Governor or Vice-Governor; 21 for Federal or State Deputy, Mayor or Vice-Mayor; and 18 for city Councilman.[15]

text: Canada[edit]

text: In Canada, (other than Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, the Prince Edward Island, Quebec and Saskatchewan) a person must be aged 19 or over (18 in Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, the Prince Edward Island, Quebec and Saskatchewan) to stand for election to public office in municipal and provincial office. To be eligible to run for federal Member of Parliament for the House of Commons of Canada, you must be minimum 18 years on the day of the election. [16] However, to be appointed to the Senate, one must be at least 30 years of age, must possess land worth at least $4,000 in the province for which he or she is appointed, and must own real and personal property worth at least $4,000, above his or her debts and liabilities.[citation needed]

text: Chile[edit]

text: In Chile the minimum age required to be elected President of the Republic is 35 years on the day of the election. Before the 2005 reforms the requirement was 40 years, and from 1925 to 1981 it was 30 years. For senators it is 35 years (between 1981 and 2005 it was 40 years) and for deputies it is 21 years (between 1925 and 1970 it was 35 years).[17]

text: China[edit]

text: In China the minimum age to be elected as president or vice-president is 45.[18]

text: Cyprus[edit]

text: In Cyprus the minimum age to be elected president is 35 years.

text: Czech Republic[edit]

text: In the Czech Republic, a person must be at least 18 years old to be elected in local elections. A person must be at least 21 years old to be elected to the lower house of the Czech Parliament or to the European Parliament and 40 years old to be a member of the upper house (Senate) of the Parliament[19] or the President of the Czech Republic.

text: Denmark[edit]

text: In Denmark, any adult 18 years of age or older can become a candidate and be elected in any public election.

text: Estonia[edit]

text: In Estonia, any citizen 18 years of age or older can be elected in local elections, and 21 years or older in parliamentary elections. The minimum age for the President of Estonia is 40.[20]

text: France[edit]

text: In France, any citizen 18 years of age or older can be elected to the lower house of Parliament, and 24 years or older for the Senate. The minimum age for the President of France is 18.

text: Germany[edit]

text: In Germany, any citizen 18 years of age or older can be elected in national, regional or local elections. The only exception is the Landtag election in Hesse where a minimum age of 21 is required.[21] The minimum age for the President is 40.

text: Hong Kong[edit]

text: In Hong Kong a person must be at least 21 to be candidate in a district council or Legislative Council election. A person must be at least 40 to be candidate in the Chief Executive election, and also at least 40 to be candidate in the election for the President of the Legislative Council from among the members of the Legislative Council.

text: India[edit]

text: In India a person must be at least:

text:
35 to be the President or Vice President, Governor and Lieutenant-Governor of the States as specified in the Constitution of India
30 to be a member of Rajya Sabha (the upper house of Parliament of India) and a Vidhan Parishad (the upper house of a State Legislature, in those states where the legislature is bicameral.)
25 to be the Prime Minister, Lok Sabha Speaker, Union Minister, Chief Minister, Vidhan Sabha Speaker, Minister in the State Governments. Additionally, to be a member of Lok Sabha (the lower house of Parliament of India) and a Vidhan Sabha (the lower house a State Legislature in the States of India.)
21 to be the Mayor, Chairman, Head and a Member (Members are variously called Corporators/Councillors/Ward Members according to the type of their respective local bodies) of a Nagar Nigam (Municipal Corporation), Nagar Palika (Municipal Council), Nagar Panchayat (Town Committee), Gram Sabha (Village Council) and Gram Panchayat (Village Committee) respectively.

text: Criticism has been on the rise to decrease the age of candidacy in India. Young India Foundation has been working on a campaign to decrease the age of candidacy in India for MPs and MLAs to better reflect the large young demographic of India.[22]

text: Indonesia[edit]

text: In Indonesia a person must be at least:

text:
35 to be President or Vice President as specified in the Constitution of Indonesia
30 to be Governor or Lieutenant Governor, as specified in the 2004 Regional Government Act
25 to be Regent, Vice Regent, Mayor, or Deputy Mayor, as specified in the 2004 Regional Government Act
21 to be Senator or Representative in both national and local parliament, as specified in the 2008 Election Act

text: Israel[edit]

text: In Israel one must be at least 21 to become a member of the Knesset (Basic Law: The Knesset section 6(a)) or a municipality. When the Prime Minister was directly elected, one must have been a member of the Knesset who is at least 30 to be a candidate for Prime Minister. Every Israeli Citizen (including minors) can be appointed as a Government Minister, or elected as President of Israel, but the latter role is mostly ceremonial and elected by the Parliament.

text: Italy[edit]

text: In Italy, a person must be at least 50 to be President of the Republic, 40 to be a Senator, and 25 to be a Deputy, as specified in the 1947 Constitution of Italy. 18 years of age is sufficient, however, to be elected member of the Council of Regions, Provinces, and Municipalities (Communes).

text: Iran[edit]

text: In Iran a person must be at least 21 years old to run for president.[23]

text: Iraq[edit]

text: The Iraqi constitution states that a person must be at least 40 years old to run for president[24] and 35 years old to be Prime Minister.[25] The Iraqi Election Law No. 45 of 2013 states that a person must be 30 years old to run for the House of Representatives.[26] There are proposals by various MP's to amend the Law and reduce the age from 30 to 25.

text: Ireland[edit]

text: The 1937 Constitution of Ireland requires the President to be at least 35 and members of the Oireachtas (legislature) to be 21.[27][28] Members of the European Parliament for Ireland must also be 21.[28][29] Members of local authorities must be 18, reduced from 21 in 1973.[28][30] The 1922–37 Constitution of the Irish Free State required TDs (members of the Dáil, lower house) to be 21,[31] whereas Senators had to be 35 (reduced to 30 in 1928).[32] The Thirty-fifth Amendment of the Constitution (Age of Eligibility for Election to the Office of President) Bill 2015 proposes to lower the presidential age limit to 21.[33] However, this proposal was rejected by 73% of the voters.

text: Japan[edit]

text: In Japan a person must be at least:[34]

text:
25 to be the Member of parliament of the House of Representatives with Japanese nationality, to be the Member of metropolitan, prefecture, city, town, or village with valid vote rights, or to be the Mayor
30 to be the Governor, or to be the Member of parliament of the House of Councillors with Japanese nationality. See also House of Peers (Japan).

text: South Korea[edit]

text: In South Korea, a person must be at least 40 years old to be President. A person must be at least 25 years old to be the member of the National Assembly or to be Mayor or Governor.[35]

text: Malaysia[edit]

text: In Malaysia, any citizen 21 years of age or older can become a candidate and be elected to the Dewan Rakyat and Dewan Undangan Negeri. Minimum age for the Senator is 30 by constitution.

text: Mexico[edit]

text: In Mexico, a person must be at least 35 to be President, 25 to be a Senator, or 21 to be a Congressional Deputy, as specified in the 1917 Constitution of Mexico.

text: Netherlands[edit]

text: In the Netherlands, any adult 18 years of age or older can become a candidate and be elected in any public election.

text: New Zealand[edit]

text: In New Zealand the minimum age to be Prime Minister of New Zealand is 18 years old. Citizens and permanent residents who are  enrolled as an elector are eligible to be a candidate for election as a Member of Parliament.[citation needed]

text: Nigeria[edit]

text: In Nigeria, a person must be at least 35 years of age to be elected President or Vice President, 35 to be a Senator or State Governor, and 25 to be a Representative in parliament or Member of the States' House of Assembly.[citation needed]

text: Norway[edit]

text: In Norway, any adult can become a candidate and be elected in any public election, from the calendar year that he or she turns 18 years.

text: Pakistan[edit]

text: In Pakistan, a person must be at least 45 years old to be President. A person must be at least 25 years old to be a member of the provincial assembly or national assembly.[citation needed]

text: Philippines[edit]

text:
Ages of candidacy in the Philippines

Type of candidate
Minimum age

President and Vice President
40

Senator
35

Regional governor
35

Member of the House of Representatives
25

Provincial-level elected official
23

City-level elected official
21

Municipal-level elected official
21

Member of the regional legislative assembly
21

Barangay-level elected official
18

Member of youth councils
18-24

text: Poland[edit]

text:
Ages of candidacy in Poland

Type of candidate
Minimum age

President
35

Senator
30

Mayor/Wójt
25

Poseł
21

Member of the European Parliament
21

Councillor
18

text: Portugal[edit]

text:
Ages of candidacy in Portugal

Type of candidate

Minimum age

References

President

35

[36]

Parliament

18

[37]

text: Singapore[edit]

text: In Singapore a person must be at least 45 years old to run for president.[38]

text: South Africa[edit]

text: Section 47, Clause 1 of the 1996 Constitution of South Africa states that "Every citizen who is qualified to vote for the National Assembly is eligible to be a member of the Assembly", defaulting to Section 46 which "provides for a minimum voting age of 18 years" in National Assembly elections; Sections 106 and 105 provide the same for provincial legislatures.

text: Sweden[edit]

text: In Sweden, any citizen at least 18 years old, who resides, or who has resided in the realm can be elected to parliament.[39] Citizens of Sweden, the Europeans Union, Norway or Iceland aged 18 and over may be elected to county or municipal council. Citizens of other countries may also be elected to council, provided they have resided in the realm for at least three years.[40]

text: Switzerland[edit]

text: In Switzerland, any citizen aged 18 or over can become a candidate and be elected in any federal election.

text: Thailand[edit]

text: In Thailand the minimum age to be elected to the National Assembly is 35 years.

text: Turkey[edit]

text: The 1876 constitution set the age for parliamentary elections as 30. This remained unchanged until 13 October 2006, when it was lowered to 25 through a constitutional amendment. In 2017, it was further lowered to 18, the same as the voting age.[41]

text: The Prime Minister of Turkey has to be a member of the parliament, hence it has the same requirements as parliamentary eligibility. The age of candidacy for the President is 18. Due to new laws being voted in as said Prime Minister is related to parliament and in order to be in parliament you have to be 18 and the government of Turkey said that 18 will be the age for when you can run for prime minister.

text: United Kingdom[edit]

text: In the United Kingdom, a person must be aged 18 or over in Northern Ireland, England, and Wales, and 16 or over in Scotland to stand in elections to all parliaments, assemblies, and councils at the European, UK, devolved, or local level. This age requirement also applies in elections to any individual elective public office; the main example is that of an elected mayor, whether of London or a local authority. There are no higher age requirements for particular positions in public office. Candidates are required to be aged 18 on both the day of nomination and the day of the poll. This was reduced from 21 by the Electoral Administration Act 2006.

text: United States[edit]

text: In the United States, a person must be aged 35 or over to be President or Vice President, 30 or over to be a Senator, and 25 or over to be a Representative, as specified in the U.S. Constitution. Most states in the U.S. also have age requirements for the offices of Governor, State Senator, and State Representative.[42] Some states have a minimum age requirement to hold any elected office (usually 21 or 18).

text: Venezuela[edit]

text: In Venezuela, a person must be at least 30 to be President or Vice President,[43] 21 to be a deputy for the National Assembly [44] and 25 to be the Governor of a state.[45]

text: Comparison chart[edit]

text:
Country

President

Vice President

Prime Minister

Upper house

Lower house

References

Armenia

40

-

25

-

25

[46][47]

Australia

-

-

18

18

18

Austria

35

-

18

[48]

Belgium

-

-

21

21

Belize

-

-

18

18

18

[49]

Brazil

35

35

35

21

[50]

Canada

-

-

30

18

Chile

35

35

21

[51]

China

45

45

Cyprus

35

Czech Republic

40

40

21

[52]

Denmark

-

-

18

-

18

Estonia

40

-

21

[53]

France

18

24

18

Germany

40

18

18

[54]

Hong Kong

21

India

35

35

25

30

25

Indonesia

35

35

21

21

Israel

30

-

21

Italy

50

40

25

Iran

21

[55]

Iraq

40

35

-

30

[56][57][58]

Ireland

35

30

21

[59][28][28][60][28][61][62]

Japan

30

25

[63]

South Korea

40

25

[64]

Malaysia

30

21

Mexico

35

25

21

Netherlands

-

-

18

18

18

New Zealand

-

-

18

Nigeria

35

35

30

25

Norway

-

-

18

-

18

Pakistan

40

25

25

Philippines

40

40

35

25

Poland

35

-

30

21

Portugal

35

-

18

[65][66]

Singapore

45

South Africa

18

Sweden

-

-

18

-

18

Switzerland

18

Thailand

35

Turkey

40

30

30

[67]

United Kingdom

-

-

18

United States

35

35

-

30

25

[68]

Venezuela

30

30

-

21


document_title: 2018 FIFA World Cup broadcasting rights

question_text: which channel in india will show fifa world cup 2018

root

text: 2018 FIFA World Cup broadcasting rights

text: FIFA, through several companies, sold the broadcasting rights for the 2018 FIFA World Cup[1] to the following broadcasters.

tag: p

text: Television[edit]

text:
Country/Region

Broadcaster

Ref.

 Afghanistan

ATN

[1][2]

 Albania

RTSH

[1]

 Andorra

TF1, France Télévisions, TVE, beIN Sports

[1]

 Angola

TPA, Kwesé Sports, SuperSport, StarTimes, Canal+

[1]

 Argentina

TV Pública, TyC Sports, DirecTV

[1]

 Armenia

ARMTV

[1]

 Australia

SBS, Optus Sport

[3][4][5]

 Austria

ORF, OE24, DAZN

[1]

 Azerbaijan

İTV, AzTV

[1]

 Bangladesh

BTV, Maasranga TV,  Nagorik TV, Sony Pictures Networks

[1][2][6]

 Bahamas

ZNS, DirecTV

[1]

 Belarus

BTRC

[1]

 Belgium

VRT, RTBF

[1]

 Benin

ORTB, Kwesé Sports, SuperSport, StarTimes, Canal+

[1]

 Bermuda

BBC, DirecTV

[1]

 Bhutan

Sony Pictures Networks

[1]

 Bolivia

Unitel, Red Uno, DirecTV

[1]

 Bosnia and Herzegovina

BHRT

[1]

 Brazil

Globo, SporTV, Fox Sports

[7][8][9]

 Brunei

Astro

[1]

 Bulgaria

BNT

[1]

 Burkina Faso

RTB, Kwesé Sports, SuperSport, StarTimes, Canal+

[1]

 Cambodia

CBS

[1][2]

 Cameroon

CRTV, Kwesé Sports, SuperSport, StarTimes, Canal+

[1]

 Canada

CBC, Sportsnet, TVA Sports

[4][10][1]

 Chad

ORTNV, Kwesé Sports, SuperSport, StarTimes, Canal+

[1]

 Chile

Canal 13, TVN, Mega, DirecTV, Movistar

[1]

 China

CCTV, Migu, Youku

[2][11][12]

 Colombia

Caracol TV, RCN TV, DirecTV

[1]

 Congo

Télé Congo, Kwesé Sports, SuperSport, StarTimes, Canal+

[1]

 Costa Rica

Teletica, Sky, Movistar

[1][13]

 Côte d'Ivoire

RTI, Kwesé Sports, SuperSport, StarTimes, Canal+

[1]

 Croatia

HRT

[1]

 Cuba

ICRT

[1]

 Cyprus

CyBC

[1]

 Czech Republic

ČT

[1]

 Denmark

DR, TV 2

[1]

 Dominica

Sky, DirecTV

[1]

 Dominican Republic

Antena 7, Sky

[14]

 Ecuador

RTS, DirecTV

[1]

 El Salvador

TCS, Sky

[1]

 Estonia

ERR

[1]

 Faroe Islands

DR, TV 2

[1]

 Finland

Yle

[1][15]

 France

TF1, France Télévisions, beIN Sports

[1]

 Gabon

RTG, Kwesé Sports, SuperSport, StarTimes, Canal+

[1]

 Gambia

GRTS, Kwesé Sports, SuperSport, StarTimes, Canal+

[1]

 Germany

ARD, ZDF, Sky Sport, DAZN

[16][17][18][19][20]

 Georgia

GPB

[1]

 Ghana

GBC, Kwesé Sports, SuperSport, StarTimes, Canal+

[1]

 Greece

ERT

[1]

 Greenland

DR, TV 2

[1]

 Guatemala

TV Azteca, Tigo Sports, Sky, Movistar

[1]

 Guinea

RTG, Kwesé Sports, SuperSport, StarTimes, Canal+

[1]

 Honduras

TVC, Sky, Movistar

[1]

 Hong Kong

ViuTV,  Now TV

[1][2][21][22]

 Hungary

MTVA

[1]

 Iceland

RÚV

[1]

 India

Jio TV, AirTel TV, Sony Pictures Networks

[1][23]

 Indonesia

Trans Media, K-Vision, SuperPass, USeeTV

[2][24][25][26][27]

 Iran

IRIB, beIN Sports

[28]

 Ireland

RTÉ

[1]

 Israel

KAN, Keshet, Sport 5, Charlton

[1]

 Italy

Mediaset

[1]

 Jamaica

TVJ, DirecTV

[1]

 Japan

NHK, NTV, TV Asahi, TBS, Fuji TV

[1]

 Kazakhstan

Qazaqstan

[1]

 Kenya

NTV, Kwesé Sports, SuperSport, StarTimes, Canal+

[1]

 Kosovo

RTK

[1]

 Kyrgyzstan

KTRK

[1]

 Laos

TVLAO

[1][2]

 Latvia

LTV

[1]

 Lebanon

Télé Liban, beIN Sports

[1][29][30]

 Liechtenstein

SRG SSR

[31]

 Lithuania

LRT

[1]

 Macau

TDM

[2][32]

 Madagascar

ORTM, Kwesé Sports, SuperSport, StarTimes, Canal+

[1]

 Malaysia

Astro, RTM

[1][33][34][35]

 Maldives

PSM, Sony Pictures Networks

[1]

 Mali

Africable, Kwesé Sports, SuperSport, StarTimes, Canal+

[1]

 Malta

PBS

[1]

 Mauritius

MBC, Kwesé Sports, SuperSport, StarTimes, Canal+

[1]

 Mexico

Televisa, TV Azteca, Sky México

[1]

 Moldova

TRM

[1]

 Monaco

TF1, France Télévisions, beIN Sports

[1]

 Mongolia

NTV, MNB

[1][2]

 Montenegro

RTCG

[1]

 Morocco

SNRT, beIN Sports

[1][36]

 Mozambique

TVM, TV Miramar, TV Sucesso, Kwesé Sports, SuperSport, StarTimes, Canal+

[1]

 Myanmar

Skynet Sports

[1][2]

 Namibia

NBC, Kwesé Sports, SuperSport, StarTimes, Canal+

[1]

   Nepal

NTV, Kantipur TV, Sony Pictures Networks

[1]

 Netherlands

NOS

[1]

 New Zealand

Sky Sport

[1][37]

 Nicaragua

Ratensa, Sky, Movistar

[1]

 Niger

ORTN, Kwesé Sports, SuperSport, StarTimes, Canal+

[1]

 Nigeria

NTA, Kwesé Sports, SuperSport, StarTimes, Canal+

[1]

 North Korea

KCTV

[1]

 Norway

NRK, TV 2

[1]

 Pakistan

PTV, Sony Pictures Networks

[1]

 Panama

Corporación Medcom, Televisora Nacional, Sky, Movistar

[1]

 Papua New Guinea

EM TV, Sky Pacific

[1]

 Paraguay

SNT, Telefuturo, TyC, DirecTV

[1]

 Peru

Latina, DirecTV

[1]

 Philippines

ABS-CBN

[1][2][38]

 Poland

TVP, NC+

[1]

 Portugal

RTP, SIC, SportTV

[39][40][41]

 Romania

TVR

[1]

 Rwanda

RBA, Kwesé Sports, SuperSport, StarTimes, Canal+

[1]

 Russia

Perviy Kanal, VGTRK, Match TV

[42]

 San Marino

Mediaset

[1]

 Senegal

RTS, Kwesé Sports, SuperSport, StarTimes, Canal+

[1]

 Serbia

RTS

[1]

 Seychelles

SBC, Kwesé Sports, SuperSport, StarTimes, Canal+

[1]

 Singapore

Mediacorp, Singtel, StarHub

[2][43]

 Slovakia

RTVS

[1]

 Slovenia

RTVSLO

[1]

 Solomon Islands

Our Telekom, Sky Pacific

[1]

 South Africa

SABC, SuperSport, StarTimes

[1][44]

 South Korea

KBS, MBC, SBS

[1]

 Spain

TVE

[1]

 Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation, Sony Pictures Networks

[1]

 Suriname

SCCN, DirecTV

[1]

 Sweden

SVT, TV4

[16][18]

  Switzerland

SRG SSR, DAZN

[31]

 Taiwan

ELTA, CTS

[1][2][45]

 Tajikistan

Varzish TV

[1]

 Tanzania

TBC, Kwesé Sports, SuperSport, StarTimes, Canal+

[1]

 Thailand

TrueVisions, Channel 5, Amarin TV

[2][46][47][48]

 Timor Leste

ETO Telco

[1][2]

 Togo

TVT, Kwesé Sports, SuperSport, StarTimes, Canal+

[1]

 Trinidad & Tobago

CNC3, DirecTV

[1]

 Tunisia

ERTT, beIN Sports

[1]

 Turkey

TRT

[1]

 Uganda

BBS, Kwesé Sports, SuperSport, StarTimes, Canal+

[1]

 Ukraine

Inter, NTN

[1][49]

 United KingdomshowHome Nations/Territories
 Channel Islands
 England
 Isle of Man
 Northern Ireland
 Scotland
 Wales

BBC, ITV

[17]

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[50][51]

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tag: table

text:
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[1][59]

text: Radio[edit]

text:
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[60]

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[63]

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[1][64]

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[1][65]


document_title: Biblical Magi

question_text: where in the east did the magi come from

text: Biblical Magi

text: Biblical account[edit]

text: Traditional nativity scenes depict three "Wise Men" visiting the infant Jesus on the night of his birth, in a manger accompanied by the shepherds and angels, but this should be understood as an artistic convention allowing the two separate scenes of the Adoration of the Shepherds on the birth night and the later Adoration of the Magi to be combined for convenience.[7] The single biblical account in Matthew simply presents an event at an unspecified point after Christ's birth in which an unnumbered party of unnamed "wise men" ("μάγοι") visits him in a house ("οἰκίαν"),[8] not a stable, with only "his mother" mentioned as present. The New Revised Standard Version of Matthew 2:1–12 describes the visit of the Magi in this manner:

text: In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, "Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage." When King Herod heard this, he was frightened and all Jerusalem with him; and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They told him, "In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet: 'And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd my people Israel.'" Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, "Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage." When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another path.

text: The text specifies no interval between the birth and the visit, and artistic depictions and the closeness of the traditional dates of December 25 and January 6 encourage the popular assumption that the visit took place the same winter as the birth, but later traditions varied, with the visit taken as occurring up to two winters later. This maximum interval explained Herod's command at Matthew 2:16–18 that the Massacre of the Innocents included boys up to two years old. More recent commentators, not tied to the traditional feast days, may suggest a variety of intervals.[9]

text: The wise men are mentioned twice shortly thereafter in verse 16, in reference to their avoidance of Herod after seeing Jesus, and what Herod had learned from their earlier meeting. The star which they followed has traditionally become known as the Star of Bethlehem.

text: Description[edit]

text: The Magi are popularly referred to as wise men and kings. The word magi is the plural of Latin magus, borrowed from Greek μάγος magos,[10] as used in the original Greek text of the Gospel of Matthew ("μάγοι"). Greek magos itself is derived from Old Persian maguŝ from the Avestan magâunô, i.e., the religious caste into which Zoroaster was born (see Yasna 33.7: "ýâ sruyê parê magâunô" = "so I can be heard beyond Magi"). The term refers to the Persian priestly caste of Zoroastrianism.[11] As part of their religion, these priests paid particular attention to the stars and gained an international reputation for astrology, which was at that time highly regarded as a science. Their religious practices and use of astrology caused derivatives of the term Magi to be applied to the occult in general and led to the English term magic, although Zoroastrianism was in fact strongly opposed to sorcery. The King James Version translates the term as wise men; the same translation is applied to the wise men led by Daniel of earlier Hebrew Scriptures (Daniel 2:48). The same word is given as sorcerer and sorcery when describing "Elymas the sorcerer" in Acts 13:6–11, and Simon Magus, considered a heretic by the early Church, in Acts 8:9–13. Several translations refer to the men outright as astrologers at Matthew Chapter 2, including New English Bible (1961); Phillips New Testament in Modern English (J.B.Phillips, 1972); Twentieth Century New Testament (1904 revised edition); Amplified Bible (1958-New Testament); An American Translation (1935, Goodspeed); and The Living Bible (K. Taylor, 1962-New Testament).

text: Although the Magi are commonly referred to as "kings," there is nothing in the account from the Gospel of Matthew that implies that they were rulers of any kind. The identification of the Magi as kings is linked to Old Testament prophecies that describe the Messiah being worshipped by kings in Isaiah 60:3, Psalm 68:29, and Psalm 72:10, which reads, "Yea, all kings shall fall down before him: all nations serve him."[12][13][14] Early readers reinterpreted Matthew in light of these prophecies and elevated the Magi to kings. By AD 500 all commentators adopted the prevalent tradition that the three were kings.[15] Later Christian interpretation stressed the Adorations of the Magi and shepherds as the first recognition by the people of the earth of Christ as the Redeemer, but the reformer John Calvin was vehemently opposed to referring to the Magi as kings. He once wrote: "But the most ridiculous contrivance of the Papists on this subject is, that those men were kings... Beyond all doubt, they have been stupefied by a righteous judgment of God, that all might laugh at [their] gross ignorance."[16][17]

text: Names[edit]

text: The New Testament does not give the names of the Magi. However, traditions and legends identify a variety of different names for them.[18] In the Western Christian church, they have been all regarded as saints and are commonly known as:

text:
Melchior (/ˈmɛlkiˌɔːr/;[19] also Melichior[20]), a Persian scholar;
Caspar (/ˈkæspər/ or /ˈkæspɑːr/;[21] also Gaspar, Jaspar, Jaspas, Gathaspa,[20][22] and other variations), an Indian scholar;
Balthazar (/ˈbælθəˌzɑːr/ or /bælˈθæzər/;[23] also Balthasar, Balthassar, and Bithisarea[20]), a Babylonian scholar.

tag: ul

text: Encyclopædia Britannica[24] states: "according to Western church tradition, Balthasar is often represented as a king of Arabia, Melchior as a king of Persia, and Gaspar as a king of India." These names apparently derive from a Greek manuscript probably composed in Alexandria around 500, and which has been translated into Latin with the title Excerpta Latina Barbari.[20] Another Greek document from the 8th century, of presumed Irish origin and translated into Latin with the title Collectanea et Flores, continues the tradition of three kings and their names and gives additional details.[25][26]

text: One candidate for the origin of the name Caspar appears in the Acts of Thomas as Gondophares (21 – c. AD 47), i.e., Gudapharasa (from which "Caspar" might derive as corruption of "Gaspar"). This Gondophares declared independence from the Arsacids to become the first Indo-Parthian king, and he was allegedly visited by Thomas the Apostle. According to Ernst Herzfeld, his name is perpetuated in the name of the Afghan city Kandahar, which he is said to have founded under the name Gundopharron.[27]

text: In contrast, many Syrian Christians name the Magi Larvandad, Gushnasaph, and Hormisdas.[28] These names have a far greater likelihood of being originally Persian, though that does not guarantee their authenticity.

text: In the Eastern churches, Ethiopian Christianity, for instance, has Hor, Karsudan, and Basanater, while the Armenian Catholics have Kagpha, Badadakharida and Badadilma.[29][30] Many Chinese Christians believe that one of the magi came from China.[31]

text: Country of origin and journey[edit]

text: The phrase from the east (ἀπὸ ἀνατολῶν), more literally from the rising [of the sun], is the only information Matthew provides about the region from which they came. The Parthian Empire, centered in Persia, occupied virtually all of the land east of Judea and Syria (except for the deserts of Arabia to the southeast). Though the empire was tolerant of other religions, its dominant religion was Zoroastrianism, with its priestly magos class.[32]

text: Although Matthew's account does not explicitly cite the motivation for their journey (other than seeing the star in the east, which they took to be the star of the King of the Jews), the Syriac Infancy Gospel provides some clarity by stating explicitly in the third chapter that they were pursuing a prophecy from their prophet, Zoradascht (Zoroaster).[33]

text: There is an Armenian tradition identifying the "Magi of Bethlehem" as Balthasar of Arabia, Melchior of Persia, and Gaspar of India.[34] Historian John of Hildesheim relates a tradition in the ancient silk road city of Taxila (near Islamabad in Pakistan) that one of the Magi passed through the city on the way to Bethlehem.[35]

text: Sebastian Brock, a historian of Christianity, has said: "It was no doubt among converts from Zoroastrianism that… certain legends were developed around the Magi of the Gospels".[36][37] And Anders Hultgård concluded that the Gospel story of the Magi was influenced by an Iranian legend concerning magi and a star, which was connected with Persian beliefs in the rise of a star predicting the birth of a ruler and with myths describing the manifestation of a divine figure in fire and light.[38]

text: A model for the homage of the Magi might have been provided, it has been suggested, by the journey to Rome of King Tiridates I of Armenia, with his magi, to pay homage to the Emperor Nero, which took place in 66 AD, a few years before the date assigned to the composition of the Gospel of Matthew.[39][40]

text: There was a tradition that the Central Asian Naimans and their Christian relatives, the Keraites, were descended from the Biblical Magi.[41] This heritage passed to the Mongol dynasty of Genghis Khan when Sorghaghtani, niece of the Keraite ruler Toghrul, married Tolui, the youngest son of Genghis, and became the mother of Möngke Khan and his younger brother and successor, Kublai Khan. Toghrul became identified with the legendary Central Asian Christian king, Prester John, whose Mongol descendants were sought as allies against the Muslims by contemporary European monarchs and popes.[42] Sempad the Constable, elder brother of King Hetoum I of Cilician Armenia, visited the Mongol court in Karakorum in 1247–1250 and in 1254. He wrote a letter to Henry I King of Cyprus and Queen Stephanie (Sempad’s sister) from Samarkand in 1243, in which he said: “Tanchat [Tangut, or Western Xia], which is the land from whence came the Three Kings to Bethlehem to worship the Lord Jesus which was born. And know that the power of Christ has been, and is, so great, that the people of that land are Christians; and the whole land of Chata [Khitai, or Kara-Khitai] believes those Three Kings. I have myself been in their churches and have seen pictures of Jesus Christ and the Three Kings, one offering gold, the second frankincense, and the third myrrh. And it is through those Three Kings that they believe in Christ, and that the Chan and his people have now become Christians”.[43] The legendary Christian ruler of Central Asia, Prester John was reportedly a descendant of one of the Magi.[44]

text: "Long before the time of Christ, India had trade relations with Palestine; much of the commerce between the Orient and the Mediterranean civilizations (including Egypt, Greece, and Rome) passed through Jerusalem", so it is very likely that Wise Men could have been "great sages of India", as Paramahansa Yogananda wrote in his “The Second Coming of Christ – The Resurrection of the Christ Within You” (2004, pp. 56–59).

text: Gestures of respect[edit]

text: The Magi are described as "falling down", "kneeling" or "bowing" in the worship of Jesus.[45] This gesture, together with Luke's birth narrative, had an important effect on Christian religious practices. They were indicative of great respect, and typically used when venerating a king. While prostration is now rarely practised in the West it is still relatively common in the Eastern Churches, especially during Lent. Kneeling has remained an important element of Christian worship to this day.

text: Traditional identities and symbolism[edit]

text: Apart from their names, the three Magi developed distinct characteristics in Christian tradition, so that between them they represented the three ages of (adult) man, three geographical and cultural areas, and sometimes other things. In the normal Western account, reflected in art by the 14th century (for example in the Arena Chapel by Giotto in 1305) Caspar is old, normally with a white beard, and gives the gold; he is "King of Tarsus, land of merchants" on the Mediterranean coast of modern Turkey, and is first in line to kneel to Christ. Melchior is middle-aged, giving frankincense from his native Arabia, and Balthazar is a young man, very often and increasingly black-skinned, with myrrh from Saba (modern south Yemen). Their ages were often given as 60, 40 and 20 respectively, and their geographical origins were rather variable, with Balthazar increasingly coming from Ethiopia or other parts of Africa, and being represented accordingly.[46] Balthazar's blackness has been the subject of considerable recent scholarly attention; in art it is found mostly in northern Europe, beginning from the 12th century, and becoming very common in the north by the 15th.[47]

text: Gifts[edit]

text: Three gifts are explicitly identified in Matthew: gold, frankincense, and myrrh, in Koine Greek: chrysós (χρυσός), líbanos (λίβανος) and smýrna (σμύρνα). Many different theories of the meaning and symbolism of the gifts have been brought forward. While gold is fairly obviously explained, frankincense, and particularly myrrh, are much more obscure. See the previous section for who gave which.

text: The theories generally break down into two groups:

text:
All three gifts are ordinary offerings and gifts given to a king. Myrrh being commonly used as an anointing oil, frankincense as a perfume, and gold as a valuable.
The three gifts had a spiritual meaning: gold as a symbol of kingship on earth, frankincense (an incense) as a symbol of deity, and myrrh (an embalming oil) as a symbol of death.

This dates back to Origen in Contra Celsum: "gold, as to a king; myrrh, as to one who was mortal; and incense, as to a God."[48]
These interpretations are alluded to in the verses of the popular carol "We Three Kings" in which the magi describe their gifts. The last verse includes a summary of the interpretation: "Glorious now behold Him arise/King and God and sacrifice."
Sometimes this is described more generally as gold symbolizing virtue, frankincense symbolizing prayer, and myrrh symbolizing suffering.

tag: ol

text: Myrrh was used as an embalming ointment and as a penitential incense in funerals and cremations until the 15th century. The "holy oil" traditionally used by the Eastern Orthodox Church for performing the sacraments of chrismation and unction is traditionally scented with myrrh, and receiving either of these sacraments is commonly referred to as "receiving the myrrh". The picture of the Magi on the 7th century Franks Casket shows the third visitor – he who brings myrrh – with a valknut over his back, a pagan symbol referring to Death.[49]

text: It has been suggested by scholars that the "gifts" were medicinal rather than precious material for tribute.[50][51][52]

text: The Syrian King Seleucus II Callinicus is recorded to have offered gold, frankincense and myrrh (among other items) to Apollo in his temple at Miletus in 243 BC, and this may have been the precedent for the mention of these three gifts in Gospel of Matthew (2:11). It was these three gifts, it is thought, which were the chief cause for the number of the Magi becoming fixed eventually at three.[53]

text: This episode can be linked to Isaiah 60 and to Psalm 72 which report gifts being given by kings, and this has played a central role in the perception of the Magi as kings, rather than as astronomer-priests. In a hymn of the late 4th-century hispanic poet Prudentius, the three gifts have already gained their medieval interpretation as prophetic emblems of Jesus' identity, familiar in the carol "We Three Kings" by John Henry Hopkins, Jr., 1857.

text: John Chrysostom suggested that the gifts were fit to be given not just to a king but to God, and contrasted them with the Jews' traditional offerings of sheep and calves, and accordingly Chrysostom asserts that the Magi worshiped Jesus as God.

text: What subsequently happened to these gifts is never mentioned in the scripture, but several traditions have developed.[54] One story has the gold being stolen by the two thieves who were later crucified alongside Jesus. Another tale has it being entrusted to and then misappropriated by Judas. One tradition suggests that Joseph and Mary used the gold to finance their travels when they fled Bethlehem after an angel had warned, in a dream, about King Herod's plan to kill Jesus. And another story proposes the theory that the myrrh given to them at Jesus' birth was used to anoint Jesus' body after his crucifixion.

text: There was a 15th-century golden case purportedly containing the Gift of the Magi housed in the Monastery of St. Paul of Mount Athos. It was donated to the monastery in the 15th century by Mara Branković, daughter of the King of Serbia Đurađ Branković, wife to the Ottoman Sultan Murat II and godmother to Mehmet II the Conqueror (of Constantinople). After the Athens earthquake of September 9, 1999 they were temporarily displayed in Athens in order to strengthen faith and raise money for earthquake victims. The relics were displayed in Ukraine and Belarus in Christmas of 2014, and thus left Greece for the first time since the 15th century.[55]

text: Martyrdom traditions[edit]

text: Christian Scriptures record nothing about the Biblical Magi after reporting their going back to their own country (Matthew 2:12 uses the feminine singular noun, χώραν, noting one country, territory or region of origin). Two separate traditions have surfaced claiming that they were so moved by their encounter with Jesus that they either became Christians on their own or were quick to convert fully upon later encountering an Apostle of Jesus. The traditions claim that they were so strong in their beliefs that they willingly embraced martyrdom.

text: Chronicon of Dexter[edit]

text: One tradition gained popularity in Spain during the 17th century; it was found in a work called the Chronicon of Dexter. The work was ascribed to Flavius Lucius Dexter the bishop of Barcelona, under Theodosius the Great. The tradition appears in the form of a simple martyrology reading, "In Arabia Felix, in the city of Sessania of the Adrumeti, the martyrdom of the holy kings, the three Magi, Gaspar, Balthassar, and Melchior who adored Christ."[56] First appearing in 1610, the Chronicon of Dexter was immensely popular along with the traditions it contained throughout the 17th century. Later, this was all brought into question when historians and the Catholic hierarchy in Rome declared the work a pious forgery.[57]

text: Relics at Cologne[edit]

text: A competing tradition asserts that the Biblical Magi "were martyred for the faith, and that their bodies were first venerated at Constantinople; thence they were transferred to Milan in 344. It is certain that when Frederick I, Holy Roman Emperor (Barbarossa) imposed his authority on Milan, the relics there were transferred to Cologne Cathedral, housed in the Shrine of the Three Kings, and are venerated there today."[56] The Milanese treated the fragments of masonry from their now-empty tomb as secondary relics and these were widely distributed around the region, including southern France, accounting for the frequency with which the Magi appear on chasse reliquaries in Limoges enamel.[58]

text: Tombs[edit]

text: There are several traditions on where the remains of the Magi are located, although none of the traditions is considered as an established fact or even as particularly likely by secular history. Marco Polo claimed that he was shown the three tombs of the Magi at Saveh south of Tehran in the 1270s:

text: In Persia is the city of Saba, from which the Three Magi set out and in this city they are buried, in three very large and beautiful monuments, side by side. And above them there is a square building, beautifully kept. The bodies are still entire, with hair and beard remaining.

text: Paul William Roberts provides some modern-day corroboration of this possibility in his book Journey of the Magi.[59]

text: A Shrine of the Three Kings at Cologne Cathedral, according to tradition, contains the bones of the Three Wise Men. Reputedly they were first discovered by Saint Helena on her famous pilgrimage to Palestine and the Holy Lands. She took the remains to the church of Hagia Sophia in Constantinople; they were later moved to Milan (some sources say by the city's bishop, Eustorgius I[60]), before being sent to their current resting place by the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick I in 1164. The Milanese celebrate their part in the tradition by holding a medieval costume parade every 6 January.

text: A version of the detailed elaboration familiar to us is laid out by the 14th century cleric John of Hildesheim's Historia Trium Regum ("History of the Three Kings"). In accounting for the presence in Cologne of their mummified relics, he begins with the journey of Helena, mother of Constantine I to Jerusalem, where she recovered the True Cross and other relics:

text: Queen Helen… began to think greatly of the bodies of these three kings, and she arrayed herself, and accompanied by many attendants, went into the Land of Ind… after she had found the bodies of Melchior, Balthazar, and Gaspar, Queen Helen put them into one chest and ornamented it with great riches, and she brought them into Constantinople... and laid them in a church that is called Saint Sophia.

text: Religious significance[edit]

text: The visit of the Magi is commemorated in most Western Christian churches by the observance of Epiphany, 6 January, which also serves as the feast of the three as saints. The Eastern Orthodox celebrate the visit of the Magi on 25 December.

text: Qur'an omits Matthew's episode of the Magi. However, the Persian Muslim encyclopaedist al-Tabari, writing in the 9th century, gives the familiar symbolism of the gifts of the Magi. Al-Tabari gave his source for the information to be the later 7th century Perso-Yemenite writer Wahb ibn Munabbih.[61]

text: Traditions[edit]

text: Holidays celebrating the arrival of the Magi traditionally recognise a distinction between the date of their arrival and the date of Jesus' birth. The account given in the Gospel of Matthew does not state that they were present on the night of the birth; in the Gospel of Luke, Joseph and Mary remain in Bethlehem until it is time for Jesus' dedication, in Jerusalem, and then return to their home in Nazareth.

text: Spanish customs[edit]

text: Western Christianity celebrates the Magi on the day of Epiphany, January 6, the day immediately following the twelve days of Christmas, particularly in the Spanish-speaking parts of the world. In these areas, the Three Kings ("los Reyes Magos de Oriente", and "Los Tres Reyes Magos" or simply "Los Reyes Magos") receive letters from children and so bring them gifts on the night before Epiphany. In Spain, each one of the Magi is supposed to represent one different continent, Europe (Melchior), Asia (Caspar) and Africa (Balthasar). According to the tradition, the Magi come from the Orient on their camels to visit the houses of all the children, much like Sinterklaas and Santa Claus with his reindeer elsewhere, they visit everyone in one night. In some areas, children prepare a drink for each of the Magi. It is also traditional to prepare food and drink for the camels, because this is the only night of the year when they eat.

text: In Spain, Argentina, Mexico, Paraguay and Uruguay, there is a long tradition for having the children receive presents by the three "Reyes Magos" on the night of January 5 (Epiphany Eve) or morning of January 6. Almost every Spanish city or town organises cabalgatas in the evening, in which the kings and their servants parade and throw sweets to the children (and parents) in attendance. The cavalcade of the three kings in Alcoy claims to be the oldest in the world, having started in 1886. The Mystery Play of the Three Magic Kings is also presented on Epiphany Eve. There is also a "Roscón" (Spain) or "Rosca de Reyes" (Mexico) as explained below.

text: In the Philippines, beliefs concerning the Three Kings (Filipino: Tatlóng Haring Mago, lit. "Three Magi Kings"; shortened to Tatlóng Harì or Spanish Tres Reyes) follows Hispanic influence, with the Feast of the Epiphany considered by many Filipinos as the traditional end of their Christmas season. The tradition of the Three Kings' cabalgada is today done only in some areas, such as the old city of Intramuros in Manila, and the island of Marinduque. Another dying custom is children leaving shoes out on Epiphany Eve, so that they may receive sweets and money from the Three Kings. With the arrival of American culture in the early 20th century, the Three Kings as gift-givers have been largely replaced in urban areas by Santa Claus, and they only survive in the greeting "Happy Three Kings!" and the surname Tatlóngharì. The Three Kings are especially revered in Gapan, Nueva Ecija, where they are enshrined as patron saints in the National Shrine of Virgen La Divina Pastora.[citation needed]

text: In Paraguay, Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic, children cut grass or greenery on January 5 and put it in a box under their bed for the Kings' camels. Children receive gifts on January 6, which is called Día de Reyes, and is traditionally the day in which the Magi arrived bearing gifts for the Christ child. Christmas starts in December and ends in January after Epiphany, although in Puerto Rico there are eight more days of celebration (las octavitas).

text: Campaign for a real black Balthazar in Spain[edit]

text: In 2009 a campaign started in Spain over the fact that Balthazar is commonly played by a white person in blackface.[62][63]

text: Central Europe[edit]

text: A tradition in Poland and German-speaking Catholic areas is the writing of the three kings' initials (C+M+B or C M B, or K+M+B in those areas where Caspar is spelled Kaspar) above the main door of Catholic homes in chalk. This is a new year's blessing for the occupants and the initials also are believed to also stand for "Christus mansionem benedicat" ("May/Let Christ Bless This House").[64] Depending on the city or town, this will be happen sometime between Christmas and the Epiphany, with most municipalities celebrating closer to the Epiphany. Also in Catholic parts of the German-speaking world, these markings are made by the "Sternsinger" (literally, "star singers") – a group of children dressed up as the magi.[65] The Sternsinger carry a star representing the one followed by the biblical magi and sing Christmas carols as they go door to door, such as "Stern über Bethlehem". An adult chaperones the group but stays in the background of the performance. After singing, the children write the three kings' initials on the door frame in exchange for charitable donations. Each year, German and Austrian dioceses pick one charity towards which all Sternsinger donations nationwide will be contributed.[citation needed] Traditionally, one child in the Sternsinger group is said to represent Baltasar from Africa and so, that child typically wears blackface makeup.[66][67][68] Many Germans do not consider this to be racist because it is not intended to be a negative portrayal of a black person, but rather, a "realistic" or "traditional" portrayal of one.[69] The dialogue surrounding the politics of traditions involving blackface is not as developed as in Spain or the Netherlands.[citation needed] In the past, photographs of German politicians together with children in blackface have caused a stir in English-language press.[70][71] Moreover, Afro-Germans have written that this use of blackface is a missed opportunity to be truly inclusive of Afro-Germans in German-speaking communities and contribute to the equation of "blackness" with "foreignness" and "otherness" in German culture.[72]

text: In 2010 the day of Epiphany, January 6, was made a holiday in Poland and thus a pre-war tradition was revived.[73] Since 2011, celebrations with biblical costuming have taken place throughout the country. For example, in Warsaw there are processions from Plac Zamkowy down Krakowskie Przedmieście to Plac Piłsudskiego.[74]

text: Roscón de Reyes[edit]

text: In Spain and in Portugal (where it is called Bolo-rei[75]), the cake, which is ring-shaped, is most commonly bought, not baked, and it contains both a small figurine of one of the Magi (or another surprise depending on the region) and an actual dry broad bean. The one who gets the figurine is "crowned" (with a crown made of cardboard or paper), but whoever gets the bean has to pay the value of the cake to the person who originally bought it. In Mexico they also have the same ring-shaped cake Rosca de Reyes (Kings Bagel or Thread) with figurines inside it. Whoever gets a figurine is supposed to organize and be the host of the family celebration for the Candelaria feast on February 2.

text: In France and Belgium, a cake containing a small figure of the baby Jesus, known as the "broad bean", is shared within the family. Whoever gets the bean is crowned king for the remainder of the holiday and wears a cardboard crown purchased with the cake. A similar practice is common in many areas of Switzerland, but the figurine is a miniature king. The practice is known as tirer les Rois (Drawing the Kings). A queen is sometimes also chosen.

text: In New Orleans, Louisiana, parts of southern Texas, and surrounding regions, a similar ring-shaped cake known as a "King Cake" traditionally becomes available in bakeries from Epiphany to Mardi Gras. The baby Jesus figurine is inserted into the cake from underneath, and the person who gets the slice with the figurine is expected to buy or bake the next King Cake. There is wide variation among the types of pastry that may be called a King Cake, but most are a baked cinnamon-flavoured twisted dough with thin frosting and additional sugar on top in the traditional Mardi Gras colours of gold, green and purple. To prevent accidental injury or choking, the baby Jesus figurine is frequently not inserted into the cake at the bakery, but included in the packaging for optional use by the buyer to insert it themselves. Mardi Gras-style beads and doubloons may be included as well.

text: In art[edit]

text: The Magi most frequently appear in European art in the Adoration of the Magi; less often in the Journey of the Magi has been a popular subject in art, and topos, and other scenes such as the Magi before Herod and the Dream of the Magi also appear in the Middle Ages. In Byzantine art they are depicted as Persians, wearing trousers and phrygian caps. Crowns appear from the 10th century. Despite being saints, they are very often shown without halos, perhaps to avoid distracting attention from either their crowns or the halos of the Holy Family. Sometimes only the lead king, kneeling to Christ, has a halo the two others lack, probably indicating that the two behind had not yet performed the act of worship that would ensure their status as saints. Medieval artists also allegorised the theme to represent the three ages of man. Beginning in the 12th century, and very often by the 15th, the Kings also represent the three parts of the known (pre-Columbian) world in Western art, especially in Northern Europe. Balthasar is thus represented as a young African or Moor and Caspar may be depicted with distinctly Oriental features.

text: An early Anglo-Saxon depiction survives on the Franks Casket (early 7th century, whalebone carving), the only Christian scene, which is combined with pagan and classical imagery. In its composition it follows the oriental style, which renders a courtly scene, with the Virgin and Christ facing the spectator, while the Magi devoutly approach from the (left) side. Even amongst non-Christians who had heard of the Christian story of the Magi, the motif was quite popular, since the Magi had endured a long journey and were generous. Instead of an angel, the picture places a swan-like bird, perhaps interpretable as the hero's fylgja (a protecting spirit, and shapeshifter).

text: Austrian artist Gottfried Helnwein depicted a more controversial tableau in his painting, Epiphany I: Adoration of the Magi (1996). Intended to represent the "many connections between the Third Reich and the Christian churches in Austria and Germany",[76] Nazi officers in uniform stand around an Aryan woman, a Madonna. The Christ toddler who stands on Mary's lap resembles Adolf Hitler.[77]

text: More generally they appear in popular Nativity scenes and other Christmas decorations that have their origins in the Neapolitan variety of the Italian presepio or Nativity crèche.