Lebanese Culture Facts, Traditions & Food That Will Fascinate You

Located in the Western part of Asia, with a population of approximately 6 million people and covering an area of 4,036 sq mi (10,452 sq km), Lebanon is one of the smallest countries in the world.

The country of Syria lies in the northern and eastern frontier, while Israel lies in the south and Cyprus across the Mediterranean in the west. This unique location of Lebanon has contributed to the diverse culture and customs in the country.

With Beirut as its capital, the name of Lebanon is believed to have a Phoenician root. 'Loubnan' which means 'white mountains' conveys the all-year-round snow-capped peaks found in different parts of the country.

Remains of primitive weapons, burial jars, demolished huts of prehistoric origin have been discovered by archaeologists dating back to earlier than 5000 B.C. This shows the earliest settlement of this diverse country.

Lebanese Traditions And Beliefs

Different cultures around the world have their own traditions and beliefs. Some Lebanese traditions and beliefs include;

Imet el kibbeye or the 'value of cup' is a unique tradition among the Lebanese people mostly in the villages. The tradition refers to a person having to leave a thin layer of drink in the cup offered by their host.

When a shoe is flipped upside down, it is custom to put it back up properly in this country. This has come from the religious idea that it is a sin to leave the shoe sole pointed towards heaven.

As Lebanese people are known to be very hospitable, a host has to offer diyefe (treats) to the guests. If not, it may come as a disrespect.

In Lebanon, Khalliha Alayna or 'it's on the house' is a very common term of endearment heard in the local stores. It doesn't mean they will provide you items for free but instead is a friendly gesture to customers.

Main Religion Of Lebanon

Lebanon consists of diverse religious groups.

Muslim is the most dominant with 30.6% Sunni and 30.5% Shia, with small portions of Alawites and Ismailis. Christians are around 33.7% with Maronite Catholics among them the largest. Followers of Druze are around 5.2%.

Other religions which are found in very small proportions are Jews, Buddhists, Hindus, and Baha'is.

Lebanese Art And Dance

Lebanese culture has a long history of producing a wide variety of artists in different fields.

In the field of visual art, Moustafa Farroukh is regarded as one of the shining stars in Lebanese art history in the 20th century. With over 2000 paintings to his name, collected mostly by private collectors of Lebanon and abroad, 'Boatman Before a Fortress', 'View of Damascus', 'Vue De Village Faitroun' are his most well-known works.

There are also many contemporary Lebanese artists who are working actively. One name among them is Walid Raad.

Belonging from Lebanon, Khalil Gibran is one of the greatest gems of the literary world. His monumental work 'The Prophet' has been translated into various languages and is regarded as the second best-selling book in the 20th century. Contemporary Lebanese writers who have been acclaimed both in Lebanon and abroad are Elias Khoury, Amin Maalouf, Georges Schehade.

Traditional music, along with pop music, rock music, and fusion are very popular with Lebanese people. After World War II, many promising stars have come to the scene, namely Fairuz, Sabah, Wadih El Safi, Nasri Shamseddine, and many more. French, Arabic, American, English, and Latin tunes are also in demand and are played on various radio stations.

Dabke is the traditional dance form that is practiced in Lebanon. In weddings and community celebrations, it is very popular and seems to have originated from the Middle Eastern region and Bedouin tribes.

Traditional Lebanese Cuisine

Lebanon offers different cuisines and is most similar to that of other eastern Mediterranean countries.

Kibbe and tabbouleh are the national dishes of this country. The former is made of minced lamb meat and burghul (cracked wheat) and then baked into a pie whereas the latter is a salad of finely chopped parsley and tomatoes with olive oil and lime juice as seasonings.

Pita bread and rice in Lebanon is served and enjoyed with Mulukhiyah (a stew made of mallow leaves, chicken, beef, raw onions, and vinegar) or Abu Shoushe (taro and lentil stew).

Labneh is very popular in Lebanon, which is strained yogurt and is a very versatile item. It can either be used as a spread or can be used in a mezze platter.

Desserts are mostly made using semolina, and some of the popular Lebanese cuisines include muhallebi (pudding made of rice, sugar, and milk), booza (a traditional ice cream made of eastern flavors), baklawa (pastry with nuts fillings), kanafeh (pastry stuffed with akkawi cheese) and many more.

FAQs

Q. What religion is in Lebanon?

A. Most of the population believes in monotheism and is religious. Islam is the dominant religion, followed by Christianity. Small portions of Jews, Buddhists, and Hindus are also found.

Q. How do Lebanese get married?

A. People opt for civil marriage outside of Lebanon as the country stresses more on religious marriage. Though it does not offer civil marriages in the local region it does accept them if performed outside.

Q. How many wives can you have in Lebanon?

A. In some religions, one can have four wives while in some religions you're only allowed to marry only once. Religious courts are very important in Lebanon as they are responsible for marriage and divorce issues.

Q. Do Lebanese have arranged marriages?

A. Arranged marriages are not that frequent. Marriage is seen as a social contract, and someone with economic security is given preference. This has happened mostly due to the economic crisis of Lebanon.

Q. What are some Lebanese beliefs?

A. With its numerous religious groups and ethnicity, Arabic is the official national language. Family is very important in Lebanon, including extended family. Men have traditionally held higher social status than women, but many women have fought against this and have now entered domains of politics, art, and literature in the urban areas.

Q. What are the Lebanese known for?

A. Lebanese society is not only known for its diverse religious beliefs but also for the diversity of the country's landscape. Geographical variations, namely the coastal strip along the Mediterranean, the Lebanon Mountains, Bekaa valley, and the Anti-Lebanon and Hermon Ranges which run parallel to the Lebanon Mountain ranges are some of the physiographical divisions.

Q. What are three interesting facts about Lebanon?

A. The three interesting facts about Lebanon are:

The etymological name of this country has been mentioned nearly 70 times in the Bible and in three of the 12 tablets of the Epic of Gilgamesh.

The famed cedar tree in the Lebanese Flag has symbolic importance, which dates back 6000 years, when the tree was the chief source of exporting material used for various building purposes.

It's quite amazing that with no oil reserve like other Middle East countries like Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Kuwait, Lebanon's GDP growth was the second-highest in the world in the '50s with its banking sector and trading center.

Q. What is the culture like in Lebanon?

A. Lebanon as a country has a diverse culture. The diversity of this country is due to the various civilizations, namely the Assyrians, Persians, Greeks, Romans, Turks, and many more who have occupied and reoccupied it, spanning over a thousand years.