Zgharta.com the Portal of zgharta zawie

Madness or Criminal Intent - Article ID:1605

There was a forest fire near the Horsh Ehden on Sunday evening, 17th August 2008.

The fire was at Chir El Skhour, along the Nebeh Jouite Road, near the holiday home resort known as, Reserve Ehden. owned by Alphonse and Remonda Yammine.

Fortunately the fire was spotted by Mrs Yammine who called upon the Civil Defence and Ehden Adventures.

The fire destroyed some 40-50 square metres of forest land.

The cause of the fire is believed to be fireworks.

After Sunday's near miss a plan of action is being put in place between the owners and Ehden Adventures to ensure a rapid reaction force and the necessary equipment to combat any outbreak of fires.

What is concerning is that there is a person or persons intent either to play the fool or to cause harm in the area. We are approaching the months where the combination of dry undergrowth and warm winds is lethal. Fires do not start on their own in the darkness of evening and cooler temperatures. If it's a case of irresponsible behaviour, then we have to look at ourselves and the acceptance that fireworks is somehow macho and is part of a young man's passage to adulthood to have easy access and use of such lethal toys.

Druze's Ehden visit - Article ID:1604

On the Feast of Saydet Zgharta, Friday, 15th August 2008, Ehden received a group of Druze Sheikhs, who were travelling in North Lebanon as part of a friendship tour.

The group was met by the President of the Union of Zgharta Zawie Municipal Councils. Gen. Joseph Maarrawi; Presidents of other councils; and Fr. Estephan Frangieh respresenting the Parish of Zgharta Ehden. The tour included the Cedar's and a meeting with the Maronite Patriarch.

The visit has been reported in Sunday's issie of the Lebanese newspaper, Al Anawar, which can be read from here.

To learn more about the Druze's we provide a link to an article which appears on the website of the Institute of Druze Studies.

In Lebanon Druze's have official recognition as a separate religious community with its own religious court system. The Lebanese Constitution provides that Parliamentary seats are distributed according to religions and sects and they have eight. The total distribution is: Christian - Maronite 34, Greek Orthodox 14, Greek Catholic 8, Armenian Orthodox 5, Armenian Catholic 1, Evangelical 1, Minorities 1. Muslim- Shiite 27, Sunni 27, Druze 8, Alawite 2.

The five segmented star is the primary emblem of the Druze faith, using the colours - green, red, yellow, blue and white; symbolizing mind, soul, truth, will, and the material world.

Unsung Heroes - Article ID:1603

It is heartening that local people, address local problems, and take local initiatives.

As we reported earlier, Ehden outdoor activity company, Ehden Adventures, with eco-activist, Sayed Morkos, organised, Ehden Big Clean Up, on Wednesday, 13th August 2008. The aim was to to clear rubbish from the beauty spots at Nwahir, the Ain Yahmoura Fountain and Al Salib and surrounding areas.

Some forty volunteers heeded the call and joined the enterprise at , Al Midan, and journeyed to the mountains. We are please to report that the Zgharta Ehden Municipal Council supported the initiative and provided a refuse vehicle and staff. As well , the local CAPS Youth Summer Camp took part, whose members enthusiastically helped.

At the end of the day all returned to, Al Midan, mission accomplish, showing to startled onlookers, the amount of rubbish collected in one day.

To see some photographs in the Galleria, click here

Feast of Saydet Zgharta 2008 AD - Article ID:1602

The feast of Saydet Zgharta on 15th August has since time immemorial been celebrated by Zghartawiens. Even for those who may not follow all the church festivals during the year, they take part in the feast of Saydet Zgharta, as it seems to have great resonance within people.

Great-grandparents tell of a time when, before the time of cars, as children it appeared that the entire village walked from their summer homes in Ehden to Zgharta on the day before the Feast. The way was hard as mule and carts used it, sometimes with fallen boulders in their path.

Arriving in Zgharta they went to the Church of Saydet Zgharta to pray and clean the church. Some of the congregation stayed on in the Church through the night making vows if their prayers were answered. Outside the Church there were festivities with people drinking Ya Asma (a ice cold drink with rosewater) and eating cactus fruit and watermelon, with dabkah and songs. Such traditions continue to this day.

The word Saydet meaning “Our Lady” comes from the Arabic translation of Madonna [which itself comes from the old Italian phrase “My Lady”] as “es Saydeh”. The feast commemorates two events - the departure of Mary from this life and the assumption of her body into heaven.

With the establishment of Zgharta in the 16th century its inhabitants honoured the Virgin Mary by building a church in her name. The church was enlarged in 1607, 1651 and finally, as it now stands, in 1761.

The Parish of Ehden Zgharta have announced the arrangements for the Feast of Saydet Zgharta as follows:

The Eve of the Feast of Saydet Zgharta (Thursday, 14th August)

Mass will be celebrated at 5pm and 6.30 pm at the Church of Saydet Zgharta
Mass will be cebebrated at 7 am; 5 pm; 7 pm at the Church of Saydet Al Hara

The Feast of Saydet Zgharta (Friday, 15th August)

Mass will be celebrated at 4.30 am; 5.30 am; 6.30 am; 8 am; 9 am and 10.30 at the Church of Saydet Zgharta.
Mass will celebrated at 7 am; 8.30 am; 10 am; 7 pm. at the Church of Saydet Al Hara.

There will be alternative Masses in Ehden on the Feast day:

St. Peter & Paul: 7 am
Mar Saman: 7 am
Saydet El Hosn: 11 am

We wish "Kul eid wa antum bekhair" to all the Sayed's and Sayedeh's of Zgharta Zawie

"Ehden Village" - Article ID:1601

There is building activity on land along the express way between Ehden and Koura some 150 metres away from the crossroad for Ehden- Zgharta - Serhel. There is a sign displayed saying, Ehden Village, which incidentally also coincides with a "coming soon" website called, "www.ehdenvillage.com

Once we find out more we will let you know.

The online community - Article ID:1600

One of the oldest, if not oldest, overseas Zgharta Ehden community websites is in Australia www.zgharta-ehden.org which has relaunced its website.

The welcome page of the website says,

"Welcome to the web site of the Zgharta-Ehden community in Australia, proudly represented by the Association of Zgharta (Youssef Bey Karam Batal Lebnan).

The main objectives of this site is to provide information about Zgharta-Ehden to all people, especially our youth, of the rich and deep history and culture of the people of Zgharta-Ehden, both here in Australia and in Lebanon, our homeland.

We would also like to provide a window to all other Zgharta-Ehden web sites and communities worldwide in order to bring our entire community closer together.

We at zgharta.com support any website which encourages the community to be proud of its heritage; to report its news; to bring it together, as our own catchphrase says ,"Where we get together" ; and do justice to it.

At this rate there will be more websites than towns and villages in Zgharta Zawie. There are in fact more Facebook groups, 157 for Zgharta and 84 Ehden (and counting).