Maghdouche Festival 2009

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

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

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 !!!

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

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?

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 !

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 !

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

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

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.