Christmas in Lebanon
Christmas is one of the important state holidays in Lebanon. Most Lebanese Muslims celebrate Christmas with Christian friends. A poll showed that around two thirds of the population celebrates Christmas, while only 45% of the population is Christian. Commercialization and open markets are bringing a more secular celebration of Christmas to the public. Churches are open all night for praying and people go to visit friends and families, often to villages in the mountains. Christmas concerts are popular, not to forget to mention the wide popularity of both local and western Christmas Carols. Around mid-December, the people start singing carols and saying payers and continue until the New Year's Eve. Internationally famous fashion designer, Elie Saab, donates a giant Christmas tree of 25 m high for public display every year in Downtown Beirut.
Lebanese Christmas food is a mixture of European and Middle Eastern fare, for example, Tabbouleh, Kibbeh, Turkey and wine, and for dessert a "Buche de Noël". Most of Christmas Greetings are spoken in French like “Joyeux Noël” or in English like “Merry Christmas”. Christmas decorative lights fill the countries roads, people decorate their houses as well. Beneath the Christmas tree, families place a nativity scene or crèche with a unique style, representing Jesus, St. Mary, and St Joseph, the Three Kings, shepherds men and miniature people, and of course Jesus Christ which is placed on Christmas eve, this is known as the Mghara in the Lebanese language. Moreover, Christmas gifts are placed all around the tree, and are opened on Christmas Eve according to the Lebanese traditions, and on Christmas morning in the American tradition.
Christmas is one of the important state holidays in Lebanon. Most Lebanese Muslims celebrate Christmas with Christian friends. A poll showed that around two thirds of the population celebrates Christmas, while only 45% of the population is Christian. Commercialization and open markets are bringing a more secular celebration of Christmas to the public. Churches are open all night for praying and people go to visit friends and families, often to villages in the mountains. Christmas concerts are popular, not to forget to mention the wide popularity of both local and western Christmas Carols. Around mid-December, the people start singing carols and saying payers and continue until the New Year's Eve. Internationally famous fashion designer, Elie Saab, donates a giant Christmas tree of 25 m high for public display every year in Downtown Beirut.
Lebanese Christmas food is a mixture of European and Middle Eastern fare, for example, Tabbouleh, Kibbeh, Turkey and wine, and for dessert a "Buche de Noël". Most of Christmas Greetings are spoken in French like “Joyeux Noël” or in English like “Merry Christmas”. Christmas decorative lights fill the countries roads, people decorate their houses as well. Beneath the Christmas tree, families place a nativity scene or crèche with a unique style, representing Jesus, St. Mary, and St Joseph, the Three Kings, shepherds men and miniature people, and of course Jesus Christ which is placed on Christmas eve, this is known as the Mghara in the Lebanese language. Moreover, Christmas gifts are placed all around the tree, and are opened on Christmas Eve according to the Lebanese traditions, and on Christmas morning in the American tradition.
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