Beit el Founoun and Dignity Project

Where did Dignity products end? - Hvor havnet våre Dignity produkter?

2009-12-02T16:28:00.014+01:00

- Here and there... Our Dignity products have found a good home. We still have some that have never been posted in our net-shop : (http://www.bydignity.blogspot.com/ ) but can be bought in our galleri in Norway, on the hope of renewing the products in the net-shop after Christmas.

Here are some photos that show where Dignity pillows have gone.

Saint Barbara day - "Eid el Berbara"

2009-11-30T21:10:00.001+01:00

As every christian village in Lebanon, Maghdouche celebrates Saint Barbara on the 4th. of December of every year. As the day, according to the oriental christian tradition, starts and ends with the sunset, the big celebration would be the evening of the 3rd. of December.

Saint Barbara day or " Eid el Berbara" is celebrated in Maghdouche similarly to the North American Halloween. It is believed that Saint Barbara disguised herself in numerous characters to elude the Romans who were persecuting her.

Sugar and coins (paper money nowadays) are offered to the masquerading children who walk the streets of the village and sing door-to-door. No need to mention that the quality (or vulgarity) of the songs vary according to the money offered !

Lately, I would say 15 years ago, The youngsters of Maghdouche developped a masquerading parade that walks the streets of Maghdouche on the evening of the 4th. of December. I hope that this parade has become a tradition and that it is still going on.

"Elbeh"- Wheat of Saint Barbara

2009-11-30T21:00:00.000+01:00

Every single house in Maghdouche will be having "Elbeh" the night of Saint Barbara (3rd. of December). "Elbeh" known also as "Am7 el Berbara" is served in a bowl and eaten as an evening snack or a warm dessert. Here is the recipe:

Ingredients:

1 glass of whole-grain wheat

5 glasses of water

1 tablespoon of anis seeds (yansoon)

1 tablespoon / bowl sugar

1 teaspoon / bowl orangeblossom water

1 teaspoon / bowl rosewater (optional)

Almonds, walnuts, pine seeds, pomegranate seeds and raisins for topping (all are optional)

Preparation:

1. Wash the wheat and boil it in the water. Remove the foam from the surface if any forms.

2. Put the anis seeds in a textile cloth and knob it and let it boil with the wheat (nowadays they boil the anis separately and they filter its water into the wheat while boiling but I like to keep the tradition).

3. There is no timing for how much the wheat should boil (you need to taste to know). When the wheat is done, you serve it together with its water into bowl.

4. Sprinkle with sugar then with orangeblossom water and rosewater.

5. Top everything with almond, walnuts, pine seeds, pomegranate seeds and raisins.

Serve warm.

Lebanese Red Lentil Soup

2009-11-22T06:00:00.002+01:00

Ingredients (serves 6):
500 g. split red lentils
1 large onion, finely chopped
1 tablespoon (or 2 cubes) bouillon
1 teaspoon cumin
salt and pepper (to taste)
juice of half a lemon
vegetable oil
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

Preparation:
Boil the lentils in water around half an hour until the lentils are really disintegrated. With a spoon, remove the white foam that forms on the surface. Add the bouillon at this stage and add water every now and then if needed.

Meanwhile, fry the onion in oil until it gets red-brown and add it to the boiling lentils.
Add and stir cumin, salt and pepper.
Remove away from fire, add the lemon juice and the extra virgin olive oil. Stir again.

Serve with a slice of lemon and croutons ( pita bread croutons are the best).
Enjoy !

Dignity on Facebook

2009-11-16T17:14:00.004+01:00

Here we are, slowly back after a " too much to do" period... Besides, Trond was having some health problems that paralised our activities for a while. But we are back and that is the important.

On Facebook, we started a group for Dignity's friends. So if you have an account on Facebook, dont hesitate to show your support and join our group. To go there just click here...

Me'ikeh - Speciality of Maghdouche - Salt kjeks fra Maghdouche

2009-10-29T15:52:00.000+01:00

I have never eaten "Me'ikeh" or "M3ikeh" outside Maghdouche. Correct me if I am wrong, but for me, it is a Maghdouche speciality by default. "Me'ikeh" as a snack has the exotic smell of "El Wa3r" and the taste of "Nab3et el7ommar" (These are local area names).

Ingredients:

1 kilo wheat flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
1 cup roasted sesame seeds
½ cup wild pine seeds “7abb ereish” (optional)
2 cups fresh thymes (Zaatar) washed and chopped (out of season I use dried Zaatar flowers)
2 cups vegetable oil
2 – 4 glasses water

Oppskriften på norsk:

1 kg. hvetemel

1 ts. bakepulver

1/2 ts. salt

1 kopp ristede sesamfrø

1/2 kopp furufrø ( ut og plukk, for de norske frøene smaker vidunderlig godt)

2 kopper frisk timian eller tørket med blomster

2 kopper god olje

2- 4 glass vann (deigen skal være tørr, men henge sammen)

Preparation:
1) Mix flour, baking powder, salt, sesame seeds, wild pine seeds and timian
2) Add oil

3) With both your hands, crumble the mixture and oil until the oil is absorbed equally
4) Add half of the water and mix
5) Add the rest of the water little by little and stop when nothing of the flour is left in the bowl

6) Divide dough into handful pieces
7) Shape each piece into a ball and let rest for 15 minutes
8) Roll each ball to a flat round
9) Place onto oven trays and bake ,approx. 175 degree, until the rounds get a golden colour (I love them well roasted)
10) Serve when cold

Melhem Barakat in Maghdouche !

2009-09-21T19:39:00.003+02:00

This might not be of interest for our norwegian friends, but I have to mention it here as "Melhem Barakat" is one of the big names when one talks about arabic music. Lebanese and arab followers know what I am talking about.

From Maghdouche party 09/09/09, here are 2 videos that I found posted on facebook. Enjoy !

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/video/video.php?v=163117221006&ref=mf

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/video/video.php?v=162677236006

A Tribute to George Khalil

2009-08-26T21:17:00.007+02:00

Maghdouche Festival 2009 was launched with a tribute to George Khalil who passed away lately. George Khalil was the founder of the "Kroom e Shams" Festival and one of those who worked hard to assume its continuity.

In the photo, Dr. Ghazi Ayyoub , the mayor of Maghdouche is presenting the honor shield to father Jacques George Khalil. Photos by Hiba Ghanem.

Dignity Cats !

2009-08-19T10:16:00.009+02:00

Trond Einar's cats idea was a success. People, children and adults are showing a lot of interest and curiosity... and for that, they are excused. The cats are adorable ! so cute that you feel to touch them, hug them... They awake the child inside you that you feel to play with them.

During the process of knitting, the cat gets a name and a little story that awake the imagination and let your thoughts fly in a wonderland... "Uheldig Hilde" translated as Unlucky Hilde, "Dolly Dollar", "Dolly Simpel", " fru L.V. Fransen" and many other names. Most of them has find a good and loving home.

The demand on the cats is growing and TrondE is not able to fullfill it by himself that he asked Sissel to help with the knitting on the hope that our people in Maghdouche are knitting cats and that we will bring them to Norway after Christmas. Note that TrondE had a course in Maghdouche, in May,on how to knit the cats.

Lately, the press got interested in the "Dignity cats" and the clever idea of owning a cat while supporting our Dignity Project. Here is the journalist Håvard Lillebo from the newspaper "Østlendigen" taking photos of TrondE and the cats after a long interview with us about Dignity Project that will be published soon in "Østlendingen". Dont miss it !

Up till now, people supported our project with a "pelargonium" plant so why not supporting it with a lovely wool cat ?

Maghdouche Festival 2009

2009-08-18T20:58:00.004+02:00

This year "Kroum e Shams" Festival, directly translated as "Vineyards of the Sun festival", has exceptionally shifted name to "Maghdouche Festival 2009".

Does the name matter that much ? For the young generation, it does'nt, as far as the Arak is the same, the Stolichnaya Vodka is the same, the barbecued meat cubes are the same and our famous "Dabke" dance lasting till the morning is the same.

But for us, the older generation, the generation that grew up with the festival, the name means a lot. It is the name that gave to the festival its identity and particularity, and what is more particular for Maghdouche than its grapes and its vineyards?

This year, the preparations are in progress. Thanks for the efforts of enthosiastic Maghdouche people, the festival manages to host some big names in the arab art scene: Melhem Barakat (6/9/2009), and Diana Haddad (7/9/2009), as well as many others known names: Margo Kassar, Fadia Najem etc etc...

The festival this year starts on the 22/8/2009 and ends on the 13/9/2009.

For arabic speakers, you can find the full program of the festival on Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=218246260166

After the Weekend Market

2009-08-04T09:43:00.003+02:00

Yesterday, in the same news paper "Hamar arbeiderblad", a follow up reportage about the market, updated the readers with the weekend happening news, and marked our weekend market as a yearly tradition. Well done, Rolf Småriseth !

Before the Weekend Market

2009-08-04T09:06:00.005+02:00

Just one day before the weekend market, "Hamar arbeiderblad" made a very interesting reportage. Rolf Småriseth, the journalist, was clever in putting the light on the coming event and the preparations going on, which helped us getting a lot of visitors during the whole weekend.

"Hamar arbeiderblad" is always playing a major role in sharing Dignity's activities with eager readers.

I Love Maghdouche !!!

2009-07-30T17:40:00.004+02:00

Here is a little movie about Maghdouche showing norwegian friends supporting our Dignity Project and Maghdouche. This movie is composed of photos that were taken during our Market day in August 2008. We hope you like it !

Dignity Weekend Market 2009

2009-07-16T21:45:00.006+02:00

Natthagen galleri has the pleasure of inviting you to the weekend market 2009 dedicated to support our Dignity project in Maghdouche - Lebanon.

Location: Natthagen galleri
Adress: Vensbakeriet - Løten - Norway
Date: Saturday and Sunday, the 1. and 2. of August
Time: from 12:00 to 4:00 PM.

All are welcome ! Help us spread the news.

How did it go with the courses?

2009-07-03T18:12:00.013+02:00

We haven't been posting any articles lately. Things were a little bit out of control after our last trip to Lebanon, in May, that we are having the feeling of being behind schedule all the time !

But although it seems a long time since May and the news are old by now, we have to tell our readers and friends how did it go when it comes to the courses. During our stay in Maghdouche, we had time to offer 3 courses... Berit gave the first course. It was about making wool socks (the norwegian way) using 5 sticks.

Robert gave the second course that was a course in tatting where participants got familiar with the shittle and its use, made their first double stitches, picots and rings. The participants saw the light when they were able to understand the logic behind the weird elegant hand movements of tatting...

The third and last course was with TrondE. It was about knitting small cats. After the course, the participants were able to knit a cat on 2 sticks, filt it as they were introduced to filting and personalise it by embroidering the eyes and the mouth.

This time, the courses were given to a limited number of people on the hope that these people will be able to teach the others that are interested in learning the techniques.

Berit and Bjørn Visiting Lebanon !

2009-06-20T17:36:00.003+02:00

Dear friends and loyal readers,
Here is a little taste of our last trip to Lebanon in May 2009. Berit and Bjørn were the testing visitors on how the house "Beit el Founoun" works for scandinavians and especially norwegians... We hope you like it !

Experience Maghdouche !

2009-06-02T15:57:00.013+02:00

The landing in Beirut airport was early in the morning... We were two excited people that were met by the warmth, not only in the temperature but also warmth in the hearts... We have never met such hospitality in our life. So, here in the west, we have a lot to learn... The neighbour could come with coffee and cookies at 8.00 in the morning... Maghdouche people came with cakes and sweets... Wherever you ask for the way to a certain place, you will be offered to have a coffee.

We lived in Beit el Founoun, in the old part of Maghdouche... Very cosy, both the house and the village. In Maghdouche, we visited the grotto church, the new basilica , the virgin tower, the Mazar road, the local church, the orange blossom cooperative...

Otherwise, we visited many museums, emirs palaces, churches, archeological ruins and markets, in many different cities and villages... Beirut, Saida, Deir el Kamar, Beiteddine, Jezzine, Room, Nabatieh and Tyre... plus many many more... Thanks to TrondE and Robert that were an open history book, we got a unique experience.

The food in Lebanon was so good. The only thing that we missed after 18 days was a simple slice of bread with brown cheese and a glass of milk!

We could tell more and more... and we recommend Lebanon as a warm travel destination. What we see and hear in the radio and television does not fit with the facts... Lebanon has to be experienced!

Robert's family was of big generosity and hospitality and took good care of us.

Berit and Bjørn Myhre (Norway)

2 More Oya Mandeels

2009-05-11T11:47:00.001+02:00

As our research for Oya continued, we got to Sonia Cattan after we heard that she has a collection of Oya. Unfortunately, the collection was stolen during the war on Maghdouche in 1986... Only 2 Oya mandeels survived. Here is Maryline wearing them for the photo.

Makkook - Nupereller - Tatting

2009-05-06T17:05:00.005+02:00

Course #: 6

We are glad to inform you that a course in Makkook (Makkouk) work will be held in Beit el Founoun soon. Those who are interested, please take contact with Georgette Hayek.

Makkook, known in english as tatting is a very old tradition in Lebanon dated since the Ottoman era and that dissappeared with the Lebanese war... and to just revive this tradition, could be a big achievement.

Back to the Oya Story...

2009-04-30T13:16:00.001+02:00

After our visit to Samia Saab and our research on Oya, could it still be possible to find Oya in Maghdouche? I haven't seen any black widow since years, not even any old woman wearing a Mandeel anymore! ...But whom to ask about Oya? ...for sure, Let us ask Jamal !!!

Jamal is our neighbour and guardian angel when we are in Beit el Founoun. She offers us juice or a cup of coffee whenever she has time or needs to have a little rest...

... and when we asked her about Oya, she just dissappeared for a while and came back with her mother's Oya (Zakieh) that she kept for years after her mother's death.

She proudly and full with emotions, showed us how to wear it on the head and the correct way for knobbing it.

It was not the best Oya we have seen, not after seeing the big collection of Samia Saab, but it was an Oya coming from old Maghdouche, and that was what made it special. Besides, the wood prints on the textile attracted our curiosityand attention to a possible traditional art technique that dissappeared with the time.

From my childhood, I remember Zakieh wearing her mandeel. It might be this one or another one. It does not matter. What matters now is that we are on the right track and that, by highlighting such thing, our satisfaction is enormous.

Ready for the Season !

2009-04-15T14:55:00.002+02:00

Spring is in the air !!! Time to cut the 370 different pelargonium plants and make sticklings, and of course the money goes to our Dignity project...
So friends and pelargonium lovers ! if you need pelargonium sticklings, you know where to go !!! and if you have any particular order or request, please dont hesitate to send your wishing lists or take contact by email.

Happy Easter - God påske - Al Massi7 Qam

2009-04-12T00:21:00.002+02:00

Around 3:00 am. this morning, the bells of the church in Maghdouche rang loud...

It's "El Hajmeh", a service that starts outside in the street and continues inside the church for hours till after sunrise. The famous sermon of St. John Chrysostom "the Golden mouth" makes the peak of the prayer... Another Easter service would follow for those who were too sleepy and did not make it for the first service.

The long Friday service "Jinnez el Massi7" .... Photo: Petra Hakim

Easter wishes and visits continue for the next days where "Ma3moul", chocolate eggs are offered. Whileas for the children, a competition in who is having the strongest coloured egg is usually held in the place of the village.

The Golgotha Mountain symbolization inside the church ... Photo: Petra Hakim

The last week was a heavy and intensive lithurgical week, as traditions and lithurgical prayers have a big value in the hearts of Maghdouche people.

Happy Easter to all.

Palm Sunday 2009

2009-04-06T17:26:00.006+02:00

... and here are some photos of Palm Sunday 2009. Thank you Petra for sending them.

Hosanna in the Highest !!!!

2009-04-05T11:00:00.006+02:00

Maghdouche celebrates today The Palm Sunday "Sha3nineh".

Today, every child in the village, put on the best cloths he has, hold the big candle that mothers have decorated with flowers and branches and ornaments, and rush to the church... not to miss the celebration, for today it is the day of children!

Photo: Ghada Elias 2008

Every father today, after the mass is over, hold his child on the shoulders and while the bells of the church are ringing (the small bell as well as the big bell that rings only on big occasions), and turn around the church in a big celebration. People coming from the christian villages surrounding Maghdouche, hold palm tree branches and join the celebration, singing in one voice: "Hosanna in the Highest, blessed is who He comes in the name of the Lord"...

Photo:Alain Cattan 2008

3 Complete official rounds... and one extra round just to please the children !

People of Maghdouche, we wish you a happy "Cha3nineh".

Streets

2009-03-30T14:19:00.000+02:00

Taken during our last stay in Maghdouche, here are photos of some streets in the old part of the village.