Concept in Definition ABC

The word manger presents three senses different, but they are all closely related. On the one hand, it is the container used by ranchers to feed domestic livestock. At the same time and by extension, it is the enclosure in which said container is placed and in this sense manger is synonymous with stable. Finally, it is a term with a symbolism singular, since Jesus Christ was born in a manger.

Mangers and livestock activity

For thousands of years the human being survived thanks to hunting, fishing and gathering activity. About 10,000 ago we humans created the farming and livestock and in this way we were able to abandon nomadism and settle in a territory. Livestock is based on the capture of animals in order to domesticate them and later consume products such as meat and milk. For domestic animals to be productive, their feeding and the manger became the place destined to the feeding of the cattle. As is logical, in addition to food, a place to drink had to be set up and water troughs were created.

The manger has evolved throughout history. Currently these feeders are usually metallic and with a circular shape or made with recycled materials, but formerly they were made from stone, from wood or cooked neighborhood.

The fact that the manger is normally in a stable causes some confusion, since both terms are sometimes used synonymously, as It happens in relation to the place of Jesus' birth (to indicate the place where he was born we can find both one term and the other and both are considered as valid).

The manger in the Christian tradition

According to the Gospel of Luke, Jesus of Nazareth was born in a manger because the Virgin Mary and Joseph had no other place to stay. This biblical reference indicates that the word manger must be understood as a stable.

The tradition of the manger as a representation of the place where Jesus was born began in the 11th century and its creator was Saint Francis of Assisi. This religious was weak and ill and wanted to celebrate Christmas in a special way. Drawing inspiration from the Bible, he thought that in a cave the birth of Jesus could be recreated in a real way, that is, a living manger.

In this way, Saint Francis of Assisi prepared the scene of the birth of Jesus with characters that represented Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, accompanied by oxen and, logically, with a newborn who played the role of Jesus. With this recreation a tradition that remains alive to this day began, the cribs.

Photos: iStock - Ruskpp / sedmak