By Joey Lien
Introduction
Although small, Lebanon is rich with ethnicity and spirit. According to LGIC, there are an estimated 3 million people that enjoy the Mediterranean climate of the Middle Eastern country. Lebanon is home to a variety of ethnic groups—including Phoenician, Greek and Arab—that are accompanied by beautiful languages such as Arabic, French, English, and Armenian.
Family
For the Lebanese, the bonds between blood are a foundation in their culture. A family is viewed as a unit, where the actions of each individual member are a reflection on the family as a whole. With their value for family, the Lebanese are typically more intimate and remain in close contact with relatives outside of their immediate family. Aunts and uncles become second parents and cousins are treated like siblings. “My culture values family and hospitality a lot, growing up, Arab families are humongous and very loving,” said Richard Montgomery junior Rakan Mardambey. According to Cultural Atlas, these close-knit relationships result in an expectation for the younger generations to grow up and care for their elders.
Additionally, the Lebanese strictly follow the phrase “respect your elders”. Older relatives, especially men, are to be respected and typically hold sway over the rest of the family. While the hierarchy of Lebanese families has started to evolve, there is a rendering lack of gender equality. “The Lebanese believe that men are more powerful than women. I believe that this type of mentality is misogynistic,” said Gislene Hussain, a junior at Richard Montgomery High School.
Cultural Atlas confirms that in Lebanon culture, household responsibilities typically fall to the women while men are viewed as the head of the family. As mentioned before, Lebanon culture is deeply rooted in family honor. In the past, by adding the value of family honor with a male patriarch, women had ultimately been thought of as a vulnerability to their honor. If a woman’s actions tainted the family name, it would be considered a failure on behalf of the man and imply a lack of authority within the family. As such, to protect the honor of the family, women were subjected to more domestic responsibilities rather than receiving equal standing with their husbands. However, “things are changing across the world and women in Lebanon are beginning to get education and provide for their families,” Maradambey said.
Values
Alongside family, education is another important aspect of Lebanese culture. After the 1975 Civil War between Maronite Christians and Muslims, the Lebanese prioritized education and forming schools with faith that it would be the answer to achieving social cohesion (Scielo). Mardambey also added that “education and money is how success is defined. Getting an education is very important to the Arab people, although all may not have it, they are still very intelligent.”
Additionally, while the Lebanese emphasize respect for their families, they equally value respecting others. “My culture has taught me to respect anyone and everyone,” Richard Montgomery junior Talia Kouncar said. Cultural Atlas explains that the Lebanese are as respectful as they are prideful. While sensitive when it comes to honor, the people of Lebanon are known for their incredible sincerity and respectfulness.
Religion
The diversity of ethnic groups in Lebanon comes with a variety of religions. “A lot of people assume all Middle Eastern people are Muslim, which isn’t true,” said Kouncar. After conducting research in early 2020, Theodora determined that 61.1% of people in Lebanon are Muslim, 33.7% are Christian with Maronite Christians as the majority, and 5.2% are Druze. Digging even deeper, 30.6% of people in Lebanon are Sunni, 30.5% are Shia, and smaller percentages are Alawites, Ismailis, Jews, Baha’is, Buddhists, and Hindus.
Cuisine
The national dish of Lebanon is Kibbeh. Nuggets with a crunchy exterior that guides your tastebuds to the mouth-watering meat inside. Baklava is another well-known Lebanese dish. A delicious dessert that has layers of soft filo and sweetened shreds of nuts, all held together with either syrup, frosting, or honey. According to Framingham, other dishes in Lebanon typically involve lamb, chicken, fish, cucumbers, and tomatoes. “Although this is not my culture, I do take pride in the amazing Lebanese cuisine,” said Hussain.
The Arts
Lebanon is known for its artistry and was even crowned the cultural capital of the Arab world in 1999 (Ski Lebanon). The Anna Lindh Foundation tells us that a large factor for Lebanon’s artistic recognition is the annual Al Bustan Festival, a five week celebration that occurs from February to March. The festival was the result of the civil war and came to life with the sole purpose of rekindling the cultural flame of Lebanon through celebration and education. Throughout the five weeks, there is a focus on artistic activity through performances, meeting local artists, drama workshops, lectures, dance masterclasses, and more.
Holidays
With the diversity in both ethnic groups and religion, Lebanon celebrates all kinds of holidays. According to Office Holidays, This includes Christmas, New Year’s, Eid Al-Fitr, Eid Al Adha, and more. “Christmas time is always super fun in my culture. Everyone always is very happy and it’s just very enjoyable,” said Kouncar.
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