| Christmas In LEBANON  About
two weeks before Christmas people in Lebanon and else where in the
Middle East plant seeds - chick peas, wheat grains, beans, lentils
- in cotton wool. They water the seeds every day and by Christmas
the seeds have shoots about 6 inches in height. People use the
shoots to surround the manger in nativity scenes. Figures are made
from brown paper, as well a star is placed above the scene.
Traditionally throughout the Middle East people visit friends
on Christmas morning and are offered coffee, liqueurs and sugared
almonds. Lunch at Christmas is the most important meal of the
season and the whole family gathers together for it, usually at
grandparents or the eldest sons home. The meal consists of chicken
and rice, and Kubbeh, which is made up of crushed boiled wheat (burghul)
mixed with meat, onion, salt and paper.
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