Have you ever heard an old word as if for the first time? Your ears ring and you are seized by meaning–when a humble old mot causes a lump in your throat.
1. trough, manger (animals) ; feeding dish (birds)
2. crèche (Christ child's crib)
Audio File Hear today's French word and proverb: Download mp3 or Wav
Cheval affamé nettoie sa mangeoire.
A starving horse cleans its trough.
A Day in a French Life… by Kristin Espinasse
Reading to my Francophone children in their native tongue is a humbling, sometimes humiliating experience—not only for the "pronunciation pause" (kid-issued breaks in which I must stop reading in order to repeat a French word that I have tripped up on), but also for the words that I still do not know, both French and in English!
Thankfully, not all readings are cause for reprimand. De temps en temps, there are eye-opening moments when suddenly, more than a word making sense, the world seems to take on new meaning as well.
It was while reading a chapter called "The birth…" or "La naissance de Jésus" to my daughter that I suddenly felt a lump in my throat and a sting in my eyes. An English word with which I've had but a yearly encounter—usually during the holiday season—suddenly defined itself as its French counterpart moved up my vocal chords and exited in a French chorus of sound and meaning. The text preceding the word (indicated in bold, below) only served to set the dramatic stage:
Là, dans la saleté et entre les animaux, elle mit son bébé au monde. Puis elle l'enveloppa chaudement et, comme il n'y avait pas de berceau, elle le déposa dans une mangeoire pour qu'il puisse dormir…"There, in the filth and between the animals, she brought her baby into the world. Then she wrapped him warmly and, as there was no cradle, she put him down in a feeding trough so that he could sleep."
Replacing the word "manger" with "feeding trough", its equivalent, gives the account an even more heartrending effect: "manger" is poetic… while "feeding trough" effectively evokes the brutal bed that was the only resting place for the delicate newborn.
* * *
As for those instances of humiliation—whether in fumbling through French text before a ten-year-old… or in the stories I have lived that will never be told—my mind now calls up a peaceful bergerie, wherein an unspoiled baby would come to suffer all humility—this, instead of me.
French Vocabulary
de temps en temps = from time to time
La Naissance de Jésus = The Birth of Jesus (from the book "Grande Bible Pour Les Enfants," Chantecler edition)
la bergerie (f) = shelter (sheepfold)
une étoile = star
Listen to A French Christmas and "Mon Beau Sapin", "Saint Nuit", "La Marche des Rois", "Petite Ville Bethléem", "Il est né Le Divin Enfant".
Peace on Earth–sometimes it seems like an impossible dream. If you are reading this note, join in now to strengthen this universal wish for peace.
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I never associated the french word,manger, with the song or story! I thought the manger was the name for the building…Bergerie! Yes…it’s quite an “ah ha!” moment, indeed. Mangeoire! Merci! Two new words for me.
Great holiday piece and Peace to you and yours.
I never associated the french word,manger, with the song or story! I thought the manger was the name for the building…Bergerie! Yes…it’s quite an “ah ha!” moment, indeed. Mangeoire! Merci! Two new words for me.
Great holiday piece and Peace to you and yours.
Joyeux Noel, Kristin to you and your beautiful famille. Such a wonderful photo of that little farmhouse. Gorgeous.
Joyeux Noel, Kristin to you and your beautiful famille. Such a wonderful photo of that little farmhouse. Gorgeous.
Joyeux Noël
Joyeux Noël
I join with all your fans in a big Thank You for all the sharing, thoughts,and learning you bring. Quel plaisir each time there is a post. Each one is a gift. Happy Holidays.
I join with all your fans in a big Thank You for all the sharing, thoughts,and learning you bring. Quel plaisir each time there is a post. Each one is a gift. Happy Holidays.
Thank you,dear Kristi,for this beautiful gift to us today.You captured the meaning of this glorious day with humility,simplicity,and reverance and once again expressed just how
you so wonderfully paint pictures with your words.
Joyeux Noel,dear friend,blessings always to all of you.
Love
Natalia. xo
Thank you,dear Kristi,for this beautiful gift to us today.You captured the meaning of this glorious day with humility,simplicity,and reverance and once again expressed just how
you so wonderfully paint pictures with your words.
Joyeux Noel,dear friend,blessings always to all of you.
Love
Natalia. xo
Well done dear Kristin. Well done!
Well done dear Kristin. Well done!
Merci Kristin,
You conveyed the meaning and message of the day better than all but one of the many Christmas sermons I recall in my 50 years of living
Joyeaux Noel a vous et a les votres!
God bless
Davoren
Merci Kristin,
You conveyed the meaning and message of the day better than all but one of the many Christmas sermons I recall in my 50 years of living
Joyeaux Noel a vous et a les votres!
God bless
Davoren
Thanks for sharing this with us, Kristin, and for helping us focus on the real meaning of Christmas. Joyeux Noël!
Thanks for sharing this with us, Kristin, and for helping us focus on the real meaning of Christmas. Joyeux Noël!
Beautifully put, yes it takes other translations to really get the picture of the very humble way our Lord came into this earth. Merci, et Joyeux Noel a votre famille.
Beautifully put, yes it takes other translations to really get the picture of the very humble way our Lord came into this earth. Merci, et Joyeux Noel a votre famille.
Joyeux Noel a vous et votre famille. Our message at church last evening was that Jesus’ birth was announced first to the shepherds who, unlike our fantasized versions, were actually pretty far down on the socioeconomic ladder and yet were first to hear the angel’s glad tidings. As the song says, “let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me”.:La paix du le bon Dieu soit toujours avec vous.
Joyeux Noel a vous et votre famille. Our message at church last evening was that Jesus’ birth was announced first to the shepherds who, unlike our fantasized versions, were actually pretty far down on the socioeconomic ladder and yet were first to hear the angel’s glad tidings. As the song says, “let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me”.:La paix du le bon Dieu soit toujours avec vous.
I do not care to admit how old I was–and how many years I’d studied French–before I caught on to the connection of manger, “to eat,” with the Christmas manger, a food trough. It’s now 40+ years since my year in France, and I still have those aha moments. I’ll bet we could come up with quite a list among us.
Joyeux Noël à tous.
Mara in a “White Christmas” Wisconsin
I do not care to admit how old I was–and how many years I’d studied French–before I caught on to the connection of manger, “to eat,” with the Christmas manger, a food trough. It’s now 40+ years since my year in France, and I still have those aha moments. I’ll bet we could come up with quite a list among us.
Joyeux Noël à tous.
Mara in a “White Christmas” Wisconsin
Kristin, thank you for the beautiful Christmas message. May Jesus be praised, and may we be his hands and feet to bring peace and good will towards men in our corners of the world. Christmas blessings to you and yours!
Elaine Poynter
Jonesboro, Arkansas
Kristin, thank you for the beautiful Christmas message. May Jesus be praised, and may we be his hands and feet to bring peace and good will towards men in our corners of the world. Christmas blessings to you and yours!
Elaine Poynter
Jonesboro, Arkansas
Dear Kristen, when I was a kid and growing up in Spain,we would make our own ” mangeoirs” with clay, greens, and whatever our imagination would tell us…
To this day and as an adult, everytime I see
A nativity scene, there is a special connection and
Feel in my heart the true meaning of Christmas. You
Have touched many hearts today with this special message. I’m sure. God bless you and your
Family, et Joyeux Noel!!
Dear Kristen, when I was a kid and growing up in Spain,we would make our own ” mangeoirs” with clay, greens, and whatever our imagination would tell us…
To this day and as an adult, everytime I see
A nativity scene, there is a special connection and
Feel in my heart the true meaning of Christmas. You
Have touched many hearts today with this special message. I’m sure. God bless you and your
Family, et Joyeux Noel!!
“this, instead of me” Well said Kristin.
Joyeux Noël a tous!
“this, instead of me” Well said Kristin.
Joyeux Noël a tous!
Thanks for this post! And Joyeux Noël à vous tous.
When I would teach the verb “manger” I would always mention the Christmas story and remind them that Jesus was born in a manger and that it was a feeding trough….Not many opportunities in a public school to mention Jesus, but “manger” provided me with one!
Thanks for this post! And Joyeux Noël à vous tous.
When I would teach the verb “manger” I would always mention the Christmas story and remind them that Jesus was born in a manger and that it was a feeding trough….Not many opportunities in a public school to mention Jesus, but “manger” provided me with one!
Kristen
Merci beaucoup! Joyeux Noel.
I adore the picture of the shed! At first thougt it was a painting and wanted to ask if I could buy it! really love it. Can you forward to me the picture from your camera? I could have it enlarged…si’l vous plait??
Also, would like to show you a picture of my manger given to me by my mother. It was a gift to her at the age of 5 yrs. from a priest at her Catholic church. It is rustic and I believe was made by him.
thank you
Maureenann Hilton
Kristen
Merci beaucoup! Joyeux Noel.
I adore the picture of the shed! At first thougt it was a painting and wanted to ask if I could buy it! really love it. Can you forward to me the picture from your camera? I could have it enlarged…si’l vous plait??
Also, would like to show you a picture of my manger given to me by my mother. It was a gift to her at the age of 5 yrs. from a priest at her Catholic church. It is rustic and I believe was made by him.
thank you
Maureenann Hilton
Thank you for this beautiful story on my late Mom’s birthday…Peace and love to you Kristin…and all of your readers.
Thank you for this beautiful story on my late Mom’s birthday…Peace and love to you Kristin…and all of your readers.
Your story touch my heart, and showed the belief in our faith the birth of Jesus Christ.
I’m a displaced person, so let me send my greetings from the three countries i have lived:
Wesołych Świąt!
Joyeux Noël!
And finally Merry Christmas !
Your story touch my heart, and showed the belief in our faith the birth of Jesus Christ.
I’m a displaced person, so let me send my greetings from the three countries i have lived:
Wesołych Świąt!
Joyeux Noël!
And finally Merry Christmas !
What an inspiring story. Thanks so much and Joyeux Noel. Robert Wade, Richmond, Va. USA
What an inspiring story. Thanks so much and Joyeux Noel. Robert Wade, Richmond, Va. USA
Dear Kristin, Your Christmas message was a blessing to me. Thank you so much for sharing your faith in our Lord and Savior in such a beautiful way. Joyeux Noël et Bonne Année. Margaret Webb, Jackson, Mississippi, USA.
Dear Kristin, Your Christmas message was a blessing to me. Thank you so much for sharing your faith in our Lord and Savior in such a beautiful way. Joyeux Noël et Bonne Année. Margaret Webb, Jackson, Mississippi, USA.
It’s even more staggering when you consider the symbolism. This child who was laid in a “mangeoire”, a feeding trough, later told His disciples they must eat His body and drink His blood if they wanted to have Life in them. Even as an infant He was showing us the way!
It’s even more staggering when you consider the symbolism. This child who was laid in a “mangeoire”, a feeding trough, later told His disciples they must eat His body and drink His blood if they wanted to have Life in them. Even as an infant He was showing us the way!
You said: “…or in the stories I have lived that will never be told—…”
How could you know that, and think that, and be able to anticipate what you will think when you are 80 and find it becoming sort of important to you, it is a lesson that reminds that insight and intellect and empathy are our better condition and, if you don’t mind my saying so, a reminder that my stumbling on your website some years ago was a very fortunate circumstance. Best to you,
David Rhum
You said: “…or in the stories I have lived that will never be told—…”
How could you know that, and think that, and be able to anticipate what you will think when you are 80 and find it becoming sort of important to you, it is a lesson that reminds that insight and intellect and empathy are our better condition and, if you don’t mind my saying so, a reminder that my stumbling on your website some years ago was a very fortunate circumstance. Best to you,
David Rhum
True. I would agree with David Rhum. Perspective shifts often. Sometimes sooner than we wish it or ready for. The challenge then is to stay balanced.. and Graceful.. no matter what 🙂 .. Kristin has mastered this art.
Happy New Year to all!
True. I would agree with David Rhum. Perspective shifts often. Sometimes sooner than we wish it or ready for. The challenge then is to stay balanced.. and Graceful.. no matter what 🙂 .. Kristin has mastered this art.
Happy New Year to all!
Lovely post and magnificent photo. Looks like a painting.
Merci mille fois!
Lovely post and magnificent photo. Looks like a painting.
Merci mille fois!
Lovely. Thank you for this!
Lovely. Thank you for this!