Marhaba (مرحبا)! Last Wednesday, February 13, millions of Christians around the world marched around with a large black cross (صليب) on their foreheads. What is recognized as Ash Wednesday in Western societies is called Ash Monday or Clean Monday(إثنين الرماد) in Levantine societies, where millions celebrated the same symbolic tradition on Monday February 11 – two days earlier. This tradition marks the beginning of the Lent Season (زمن الصوم) for Christians (المسيحيّن). It is a period of intense fasting (صوم) and prayer (صلاة) to God for 40 days prior to Easter(عيد الفصح) which falls on March 31 this year. Yet, Orthodox Churches (الكنائس الأرثوذكسيّة) in the Levant follow the Julian calendar (التقويم اليوليوسي)and their Lent Season begins on March 31 and their Easter on May 5.  This tradition of fasting and prayer is found in other Abrahamic religions, like Islam, and specifically during Ramadan (شهر رمضان), where devout Muslims also fast and abstain from many types of food as a spiritual and physical sacrifice to God/Allah.

I have added some pictures and a video that features an old Maronite hymn in Aramaic called ‘Son Who Fasted’ (يا ابن الله يا من صمت كي تحيينا). This hymn is very popular during the first couple of weeks of Lent.

The emphasis on 40 days (أربعين يوماً) of prayer and fasting has roots in both Jewish (يهودية) and Christian symbolic traditions and scriptures. Forty is a special number in both Jewish and Christian sacred texts. On one hand, the Jewish people journeyed for 40 years on their way to the ‘Promised Land’ (أرض الموعد) .On the other hand and in Christian scriptures, Jesus spent 40 days fasting and praying in the desert (الصحراء) before he began his public ministry. To resuscitate and remember how Jesus spent his 40 days, many Christians try to emulate his practices and use this 40 day period as a time of spiritual and physical preparation (تحضير نفسي وروحي) – which undoubtedly is Christianity’s most important feast.

In Lebanon, many followers of the Maronite (كنائس مارونية) and Roman/Greek Catholic Churches, in line with Easter Christian traditions, commonly abstain (إمتناع) from eating meat during Lent Season. The search for meat alternatives during Lent has probably led the Copts (الأقباط) in Egypt to invent the popular falafel (فلافل) as a dish, as they frequently claim. Some conservative worshipers even abstain from all animal products, including eggs and dairy, and others might opt for solely eating fish (سمك) during Lent. In Lebanon for example, many well-known restaurants and American franchises like Burger King or McDonalds introduce the fish burger for a discounted price. During this period, many Christians tend to prepare a variety of vegetarian dishes, like Pumpkin Kibbeكبة لقطين) ) and Green Beans in oil (لوبية بالزيت) or the various chick pea dishes. (In the near future I will share a new vegetarian recipe, stay tuned to check it and try it!)

Some historians trace back the tradition of marking a black cross on the foreheads of Christians to the beginning of the 8^th century CE. The significance of using ashes on Ash Monday /Wednesday is two-fold. First and foremost, it serves as a reminder of our mortality. For instance in Christian Maronite traditions in Lebanon and the Diaspora, as the minister lay the ashes and make the symbol of the cross on the forehead he says: “Remember Man/Woman that you are dust and unto dust you shall return.” (لانَّكَ تُرَابٌ وَالَى تُرَابٍ تَعُودُ)

This saying compels Christians to reflect on their life and remember that they might need to repent (توبة) and change some of their habits and practices. In other Levantine Christian traditions, the meaning usually entails a message of deep remorse that calls for a better spiritual life with God through going to church more and reading the Bible (الكتاب المقدس) more frequently. In other Christian Levantine traditions, Ash Monday is a day that many Christians find as a way to draw closer to God and thus rejuvenating their spiritual relationship with God through intense prayer, fasting and devotion.  

http://youtu.be/8WtrSuQIqv4

Stay tuned for upcoming posts.

Have a nice day!

نهاركم سعيد