Manger facts for kids
A manger (say: MAN-jer) or trough (say: TROFF) is a special container that holds food for animals. It's like a big feeding dish for farm animals or even wild animals. The word "manger" comes from an old French word that means "to eat."
Mangers are often found on farms, inside barns, or in stables where animals like horses, cows, and donkeys live. They help keep the animals' food clean and in one place. Sometimes, mangers are also used in nature reserves to feed wild animals.
There are also similar containers called watering troughs. These are used to hold water for animals to drink.
The Manger in the Christmas Story
The manger is famous because of the nativity scene from the Christmas story. In the Bible, Mary and Joseph traveled to Bethlehem. When they arrived, there was no room for them in the inn. They had to stay in a place where animals were kept.
Because there was no crib for the Baby Jesus, Mary placed him in a manger. This simple feeding trough became his first bed. This part of the story is found in the Book of Luke (Luke 2:7).
Gallery
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These 18th-century mangers are made of limestone and are found in Malta.
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A donkey enjoys eating apples from a steel trough.
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This painting, called Nativity at Night, shows Baby Jesus in a manger. It was painted around 1490.
See Also
- Away in a Manger, a popular Christmas carol
- Bird feeder, a similar item for birds
- The Dog in the Manger, a well-known story with a lesson
