Manger

For other uses, see Manger (disambiguation).

Nativity at Night by Geertgen tot Sint Jans, c. 1490, after a composition by Hugo van der Goes of c. 1470. Sources of light are the infant Jesus, the shepherds' fire on the hill behind, and the angel who appears to them.

A manger, or trough, is a feeder that is made of carved stone, wood, or metal construction and is used to hold food for animals (as in a stable). Mangers are mostly used in livestock raising. They are also used to feed wild animals, e.g., in nature reserves. The word comes from the French manger (meaning "to eat"), from Latin manducare (meaning "to chew").

A manger is also a Christian symbol, associated with nativity scenes where Mary, forced by necessity to stay in a stable instead of an inn, used a manger as a makeshift bed for the baby Jesus. (Greek: φατνη phatnē; Luke 2:7).

Gallery

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  Modern livestock trough near Empire Ranch, Arizona.

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  18th century limestone mangers at The Devil's Farmhouse in Mellieha, Malta.

See also

• Artesa, Spanish term for a trough also used in bread making
• Abreuvoir
• Away in a Manger, a Christmas carol

External links

• Media related to at Wikimedia Commons
• The dictionary definition of manger at Wiktionary