Cultural Elements Within Lebanon
Additional Resources on Lebanon's Culture:
http://www.maroniteacademy.org/maroniteacademy/5.culture-language.html
This is a valuable resource because it allows you to get a wide range of information on the Lebanese culture in one location. This source touches on Lebanon's cultural aspects of: Religion, Economic, Social Arrangements, and Arts/Aesthetics. The only element that is not present in this source is the political element of Lebanon's culture. In addition, the detail in this source about the day to day customs and gestures is very informative. Moreover, this source displays the journey of where Lebanon's roots/culture began all the way to the present day culture of Lebanon.
http://guide.culturecrossing.net/basics_business_student.php?id=115
This resource is an informative cross-cultural guide. The purpose of this source is to familiarize others with cross-cultural etiquette and understanding in regards to the country Lebanon. This source provides information on all of the elements of culture including politics. I find this source beneficial because it is easy to navigate and the information is thorough in a way that doesn't overwhelm the reader with too much new knowledge.
http://www.maroniteacademy.org/maroniteacademy/5.culture-language.html
This is a valuable resource because it allows you to get a wide range of information on the Lebanese culture in one location. This source touches on Lebanon's cultural aspects of: Religion, Economic, Social Arrangements, and Arts/Aesthetics. The only element that is not present in this source is the political element of Lebanon's culture. In addition, the detail in this source about the day to day customs and gestures is very informative. Moreover, this source displays the journey of where Lebanon's roots/culture began all the way to the present day culture of Lebanon.
http://guide.culturecrossing.net/basics_business_student.php?id=115
This resource is an informative cross-cultural guide. The purpose of this source is to familiarize others with cross-cultural etiquette and understanding in regards to the country Lebanon. This source provides information on all of the elements of culture including politics. I find this source beneficial because it is easy to navigate and the information is thorough in a way that doesn't overwhelm the reader with too much new knowledge.
This map displays the cultural elements of religion and politics. This map breaks up Lebanon to be able to see where the majority of specific religions representation are location within the electoral districts.
APA citation: Psephos - Adam Carr's Election Archive. (n.d.). Retrieved October 12, 2015.
Demographic Data of Lebanon
When it comes to the topic of work, the employment rate for people 15+ years in age in Lebanon was 46% in 1991 and 46% in 2007. There is little to no change to that percentage in the years in between as well. That is just under half the population of people 15+ in Lebanon being employed. This percentage could heavily be impacted by the number of family owned businesses that exist in Lebanon which allows for a lot of people to be self-employed, etc.
Within Figure 2 it can be seen that the number of children per woman in Lebanon from 1800 to 2013 has gone down. In 1800 the average number of children per woman in Lebanon was 5.7. In the year 2013 the average number of children per woman was 1.5. This is a large difference and a reason for that could be the development of family planning with the pill for birth control being accessible. In addition, another factor that could be a cause for the number change is the improved health circumstances which reduced the number of infant mortality. Also, in 1800 the total population was much smaller therefore the community and country was still up and expanding however now there are many more people occupying Lebanon and overpopulation could be an issue if the average number of children per woman was still 5.7.
In terms of Figure 3 the area of education is explored. In the year 1997, the primary completion rate for school enrollment was 84%. In 2003 the primary completion rate for school enrollment was 92%. This is a 6% increase in completion within just 5 years. Education is an important aspect in the Lebanese culture with the emphasis on going into the career fields of engineering and medicine being strong.
In Figure 4, the life expectancy between the years 1800 to 2013 increased in years significantly. The average life expectancy began in 1800 at around 30 years and increased to about 77 years by 2013. This shows growth in the health field in Lebanon along with a higher quality of life being practiced within the country. Along with the increase in life expectancy years came an increase in the total population of Lebanon as well. In 1800 Lebanon's total population was 332,000 people. By 2013, the total population in Lebanon had increased to 4.32 million people residing there. This shows the country's development and ability to sustain many more people for a much longer span of time.
Religions within Lebanon-
The religions that are mainly represented and known in Lebanon are Islam, Christianity, and Druze. Moreover, within the Islam religion there are two sects: Sunni and Shi’a. Christianity in Lebanon traces back to the first and second centuries CE. In the fourth century through the efforts of Saint Maron Christianity gained more ground and representation in Lebanon and it was from his efforts that the Maronite Church got its distinction. For centuries, the Maronite Christians resided in the mountains of Lebanon while empires were fighting wars over the control of the middle east (Kjeilen). Consequently, the spread of Christianity in Lebanon was slower in the beginning, but it has now spread throughout the country beyond the mountains. Christians used to dominate the Lebanese population in the early 1900’s however with decreasing birth rates and emigration has caused Islam to be the dominating religion in Lebanon. The Druze population in Lebanon is small and resides mainly near the capital, Beirut; whereas, the Muslim communities reside in the northern and southern areas of Lebanon as well as the central area.
In terms of social development, within the Druze community their lives revolve closely around their families and relationships with other Druze. Within this community, hospitality is a huge part of the culture. Since the Druze religion is not able to be left or entered it is common to marry within the family to the extent of first cousins. It is common and expected for women to marry young and arranged marriages are always an option (Rohland). Within Lebanon different towns and villages are populated by a dominating religion and it can be noticed and identified by what is eaten there, how the people are dressed, the religious building present, etc. In addition, with family being a huge aspect of these religious communities it is common to see family run and owned businesses within villages.
In regards to the Christian faith, Lebanon is considered a biblical land. Throughout Lebanon there are a plethora of religious sites and sacred places such as churches, cathedrals, convents, monasteries, basilicas, sanctuaries and chapels. In Lebanon during the apostolic era the first Christian communities were established and Saint Paul visited them often and he stopped in Tyre on his final journey to Jerusalem (Mansour). In the mountains in northern Lebanon there are many sanctuaries from when Christians resided there. For example, Holy Valley also referred to as Wadi Qadisha. There are many mosques within Lebanon where believers of Islam worship. In Tripoli there are many mosques like, Al-Attar Mosque, Al-Tawbat, Taynal Mosque and more (Mansour). In regards to the Druze faith, which is a branch off of Islam, it is a very secretive faith and there is not a specific structure where people go to worship, but rather it is stresses within the household.
The mixed representation between Christians and Muslims in Lebanon made this country differ from the rest of the Arab world. This mixture was heavily influenced after World War I when the French gained control over Lebanon. In terms of politics and religion in Lebanon, it is a delicate balance between Christian and Muslim representation. Religion plays a large factor into politics in Lebanon. For example, to meet the needs of the two main demographic groups a compromise was created that the president of Lebanon had to always be a Maronite Christian an the prime minister a Sunni Muslim (Bard). In 1941, Lebanon declared independence; however, the tension and rivalry between representation of the Muslims and the Christians within politics never lessened and still exists.
I am a Druze Lebanese girl who was raised in America. Even though my religion may be the same it is a much different culture here in America and it is hard having all the same pressures and expectations as if we were in Lebanon. For instance, it is highly looked down upon to marry outside of the religion, yet there are about 40 Druze people in the American Druze Society within Arizona. Since, the Druze religion is so secretive I didn’t learn that much about it growing up so it makes it difficult to understand all the expectations that are placed upon the community. In addition, from watching Arabic news in the household and seeing the conflicts and protests in Lebanon over politics, it just shows how the system is not working to please the people in Lebanon and change is needed. The representation of the people is missing in politics.
Sources:
Bard, M. (n.d.). Lebanon: The History of Modern Lebanon. Retrieved October 27, 2015, from http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/arabs/modleb.html
Kjeilen, T. (n.d.). Lebanon / Religions - LookLex Encyclopaedia. Retrieved October 27, 2015, from http://looklex.com/e.o/lebanon.religions.htm
Mansour, R. (2012, September 6). Lebanon: Land of Faith: Christian Sites in Lebanon. Retrieved October 27, 2015, from http://lebanon-faith.blogspot.com/2008/06/this-blog-www.html
Rohland, P. (n.d.). Druze. Retrieved October 27, 2015, from http://www.everyculture.com/multi/Bu-Dr/Druze.html
Food in Lebanon
In Lebanon, food is tied to the family so it is rare that someone would eat alone. There are a lot of starches, whole grains, fruits, vegetables, lemon juice, garlic, olive oil, herbs and spices found in Lebanese cuisine. Poultry is eaten more often then red meat but lamb is a popular meat served there. Lebanese cuisine is known for their mezze which is a plethora of small dishes offered for those eating. Some dishes that are common in a mezze are: hummus, tabouli, grape leave, kibbi, kefta, labneh, falafel, Za'ztar, olives, baba ghanoush, and more. A meal will usually end with the offerings of simple fruits such as bananas, oranges, apples, pears, etc. Lebanese dessert such as baklava, knafeh, cookies, and more are often offered when guests come over and they will have desserts and a cup of coffee while they sit and talk. Most fruits will be grown and picked from peoples homes in Lebanon and produce that they do not have can be purchased at the souk (street market). In the coastal towns and the mountain villages are where people grow their own food. The largest of the three meals in lunch which is served around 2pm in Lebanon. Pita Bread is served at every meal. It is also common to take a nap after lunch.
Lebanon has Christian and Muslim influence within its' country and there are holidays that are connected to them. For instance, Ramadan is celebrated by Muslims during the ninth month of the Islmanic calendar and during that time they avoid all eating and drinking between sunrise and sunset. There is then an Eid al-Fitr, which is the festival that breaks the fast and it marks the end of Ramadan and a plethora of food is shared among loved ones. Fatteh is a popular dish to be eaten during Ramadan and it is also recognized as a regional dish from the mountain village of Ras al-Maten.
Lebanon has Christian and Muslim influence within its' country and there are holidays that are connected to them. For instance, Ramadan is celebrated by Muslims during the ninth month of the Islmanic calendar and during that time they avoid all eating and drinking between sunrise and sunset. There is then an Eid al-Fitr, which is the festival that breaks the fast and it marks the end of Ramadan and a plethora of food is shared among loved ones. Fatteh is a popular dish to be eaten during Ramadan and it is also recognized as a regional dish from the mountain village of Ras al-Maten.
Recipe for Fatteh (Pita with Chickpeas and Yogurt):
Ingredients
Directions
Ingredients
- 3 pitas, cut into wedges
- 1¾ cups (275 g) chickpeas (canned or cooked), drained and rinsed
- Salt
- 1 cup (225 g) plain yogurt
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ teaspoon cumin
- 3 tablespoons lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons tahini paste
- ⅓ cup pine nuts, toasted
- Chopped parsley or cilantro
Directions
- Preheat the oven to 175C/350F.
- Put the pita wedges on a baking sheet and bake for 10 minutes, until lightly browned and crispy. Remove from the oven and set aside. (Alternately, Palestinian recipes often call for frying the pita on the stovetop.)
- Put the chickpeas in a small pot along with 100 ml (½ cup) water and simmer over medium-high heat for about 10 minutes, until the water has mostly absorbed and the chickpeas are heated through. Season with salt and remove from the heat.
- Meanwhile, put the yogurt, garlic, cumin, lemon juice, tahini paste, and a pinch of salt in a large bowl and whisk until thoroughly combined. Whisk in a little water at a time if the mixture is too thick, until a desired consistency is reached.
- Break up the toasted pita wedges a bit and arrange them in an even layer on the bottom of a deep serving platter, bowl, or casserole dish. Top with the warm chickpeas, then the yogurt sauce. Sprinkle with pine nuts and parsley or cilantro and serve with additional pita or pita chips.