Bdadoun
Encyclopedia
Bdadoun (also Bdadun, Bde`doun, Bde‘doun, Bdādūn, Bdādūn, Bde‘doun, Bde`doun, Bidadun, Bidadūn) is a town in Mount Lebanon
which makes up one of the 70 towns and villages in the district of Aley
(a District, is also a Quadaa, or Caza
). It has an estimated population of 3000. It is 490 meters above sea level and 15 kilometres from the capital Beirut
. It is both a Summer holiday location as well as being inhabited during the Winter months. It has proximity to the capital of Lebanon, Beirut
.
. Bd-Adoun (بِد-اَدون ) Beit Adoun, or House of Adoun the Canaanite
god of the sun Adoun. Adonis
(Άδωνις) in Greek. Tammuz (تمّوز) in Babylonia. Adonai (אֲדֹנָי) in Hebrew, or Uncle small house (Arabic: بيت العمّ الصغير) (Beit El Aam Saghir)
regions of Jbeil
and Keserwan
districts. The king Barquq (الملك الظاهر برقوق) took the opportunity and ordered an invasion of that Christian dominated area. The result was a refugee exodus southward, that settled in the Chouf District
. This region (especially the areas surrounding Beirut) was ruled by the Tannoukhi dynasty (التنوخيّون). The Tanukhs (also called Buhturs) where the Druze
hereditary lords of the Gharb (area surrounding Beirut). The Buhturs were replaced by the Ma'ans when the Ottomans conquered in the early 16th century. The area surrounding Bdadoun remained under Ottoman rule until the end of WWI.
The first settlers of Bdadoun came from the North Lebanon Maronite families as peasants. They found an uninviting land made of mostly rocky landscape strewn with oaks, wild figs, vines and some olive-trees. The settlers built stone terraces
planted fruit trees such as apricot, almond, pear, apple, pomegranates and plum. It is the latter, that Bdadoun is mostly known for Ganerik plums (Turkish: Erik, or Can Erik. Arabic: ثَمَر أو شَجَر البَرقوق ) and holds an annual harvest festival in May. This plum is believed to be a close relative of the Greengage
.
This is not to be mistaken with the Chinese Plum or Loquat
which is also grown in Bdadoun and called Akkidinya or Akkadeneh. (Arabic: اككي دني. Turkish: yeni dunya, yedi dunya)
The Christian Maronite parish of Bdadoun is part of the Beirut
diocese and has four churches: http://www.rootsweb.com/~lbnwgw/churches.htm
Built on 25 March 1899 with support of the Feghali family. Was renovated in 1988 by Mr John Ibrahim Hanna Al FEGHALY.
Our Lady of Bdadoun church is known to have been built as a dwelling first in the 17th century. It has been rebuilt many times since, last time being in 1870 after the 1860s civil strife in Mount Lebanon
.
Current belief is that it was established as a church in 1903 and was supported by the Abi Roufayel family. The church steeple was erected in 1938.
First mass is known to have been held there on 26 December 1909. It was renovated in 1923.
Founded in 1921 by Selim Nouhra. It later became a public school.
Founded in 1941 by Elias Tannous who donated the land to Saint Famille Maronite nuns.
It is 352 meters http://www.fallingrain.com/world/LE/5/Bdadun.html to 550 meters http://www.salhani.com/villages_du_liban_b.htm above sea level and 15 km from Beirut
.
Latitude 33.8100 Longitude 35.5611
Lat (DMS) 33° 48' 36N Long (DMS) 35° 33' 40E
Time zone (est) UTC+2(+3DT)
Bdadoun's bordering towns are Blaybel, Houmal, Wadi Chahrour, Aaytat, Bsous
and Qmatiyeh. http://www.localiban.org/article.php3?id_article=648. Kahale
and Kfarshima
are close by.
Neighbourhoods in Bdadoun are:
. There are people from Bdadoun who permanently live in the United States of America, Puerto Rico, United Kingdom
, France, Australia, Mexico, Brazil, Canada, Argentina, Colombia, Venezuela and elsewhere.
The pull factors for emigration were mostly:
Mount Lebanon Governorate
Mount Lebanon is one of the Governorates of Lebanon. Its capital is Baabda. The overwhelming majority of its population is Maronites, Greek Orthodox, and Melkite Greek Catholic Christians...
which makes up one of the 70 towns and villages in the district of Aley
Aley District
Aley is a district in Mount Lebanon, Lebanon, to the south-east of the Lebanon's capital Beirut. The capital is Aley. Aley city was previously known as the "bride of the summers" during the 1960 and 70s, when Aley and neighboring Bhamdune were attractive tourist locations for Gulf tourists and...
(a District, is also a Quadaa, or Caza
Caza
Caza, the pseudonym of Philippe Cazaumayou , is a French comics artist.-Biography:At 18, Cazaumayou started a career in advertising which lasted for ten years, but in 1970 he entered the field of bandes dessinées, releasing his first album, Kris Kool...
). It has an estimated population of 3000. It is 490 meters above sea level and 15 kilometres from the capital Beirut
Beirut
Beirut is the capital and largest city of Lebanon, with a population ranging from 1 million to more than 2 million . Located on a peninsula at the midpoint of Lebanon's Mediterranean coastline, it serves as the country's largest and main seaport, and also forms the Beirut Metropolitan...
. It is both a Summer holiday location as well as being inhabited during the Winter months. It has proximity to the capital of Lebanon, Beirut
Beirut
Beirut is the capital and largest city of Lebanon, with a population ranging from 1 million to more than 2 million . Located on a peninsula at the midpoint of Lebanon's Mediterranean coastline, it serves as the country's largest and main seaport, and also forms the Beirut Metropolitan...
.
Etymology
The name Bdadoun derives from the Phoenician languagePhoenician languages
Phoenician was a language originally spoken in the coastal region then called "Canaan" in Phoenician, Arabic, Hebrew, and Aramaic, "Phoenicia" in Greek and Latin, and "Pūt" in Ancient Egyptian. Phoenician is a Semitic language of the Canaanite subgroup; its closest living relative is Hebrew, to...
. Bd-Adoun (بِد-اَدون ) Beit Adoun, or House of Adoun the Canaanite
Canaanite religion
Canaanite religion is the name for the group of Ancient Semitic religions practiced by the Canaanites living in the ancient Levant from at least the early Bronze Age through the first centuries of the Common Era....
god of the sun Adoun. Adonis
Adonis
Adonis , in Greek mythology, the god of beauty and desire, is a figure with Northwest Semitic antecedents, where he is a central figure in various mystery religions. The Greek , Adōnis is a variation of the Semitic word Adonai, "lord", which is also one of the names used to refer to God in the Old...
(Άδωνις) in Greek. Tammuz (تمّوز) in Babylonia. Adonai (אֲדֹנָי) in Hebrew, or Uncle small house (Arabic: بيت العمّ الصغير) (Beit El Aam Saghir)
History
In the year 1144, fighting erupted between the Christians in the North LebanonLebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
regions of Jbeil
Jbeil District
Byblos /Jbeil is a district in the Mount Lebanon Governorate , Lebanon, to the northeast of the Lebanon's capital Beirut...
and Keserwan
Keserwan District
Keserwan is a district in the Mount Lebanon Governorate , Lebanon, to the northeast of the Lebanon's capital Beirut...
districts. The king Barquq (الملك الظاهر برقوق) took the opportunity and ordered an invasion of that Christian dominated area. The result was a refugee exodus southward, that settled in the Chouf District
Chouf District
Chouf is a historic region of Lebanon, as well as an administrative district in the governorate of Mount Lebanon....
. This region (especially the areas surrounding Beirut) was ruled by the Tannoukhi dynasty (التنوخيّون). The Tanukhs (also called Buhturs) where the Druze
Druze
The Druze are an esoteric, monotheistic religious community, found primarily in Syria, Lebanon, Israel, and Jordan, which emerged during the 11th century from Ismailism. The Druze have an eclectic set of beliefs that incorporate several elements from Abrahamic religions, Gnosticism, Neoplatonism...
hereditary lords of the Gharb (area surrounding Beirut). The Buhturs were replaced by the Ma'ans when the Ottomans conquered in the early 16th century. The area surrounding Bdadoun remained under Ottoman rule until the end of WWI.
Agriculture
Terrace (agriculture)
Terraces are used in farming to cultivate sloped land. Graduated terrace steps are commonly used to farm on hilly or mountainous terrain. Terraced fields decrease erosion and surface runoff, and are effective for growing crops requiring much water, such as rice...
planted fruit trees such as apricot, almond, pear, apple, pomegranates and plum. It is the latter, that Bdadoun is mostly known for Ganerik plums (Turkish: Erik, or Can Erik. Arabic: ثَمَر أو شَجَر البَرقوق ) and holds an annual harvest festival in May. This plum is believed to be a close relative of the Greengage
Greengage
The greengages, also known as the Reine Claudes, are the edible drupaceous fruits of a cultivar group of the common European plum. The first true greengage was bred in Moissac, France, from a green-fruited wild plum originally found in Asia Minor; the original greengage cultivar nowadays survives...
.
This is not to be mistaken with the Chinese Plum or Loquat
Loquat
The loquat , Eriobotrya japonica, is a fruit tree in the family Rosaceae, indigenous to southeastern China. It was formerly thought to be closely related to the genus Mespilus, and is still sometimes known as the Japanese medlar...
which is also grown in Bdadoun and called Akkidinya or Akkadeneh. (Arabic: اككي دني. Turkish: yeni dunya, yedi dunya)
Religion
Beirut
Beirut is the capital and largest city of Lebanon, with a population ranging from 1 million to more than 2 million . Located on a peninsula at the midpoint of Lebanon's Mediterranean coastline, it serves as the country's largest and main seaport, and also forms the Beirut Metropolitan...
diocese and has four churches: http://www.rootsweb.com/~lbnwgw/churches.htm
- St. Georges (مار جريس)
Built on 25 March 1899 with support of the Feghali family. Was renovated in 1988 by Mr John Ibrahim Hanna Al FEGHALY.
- Notre Dame de Bdadoun (السيدة)
Our Lady of Bdadoun church is known to have been built as a dwelling first in the 17th century. It has been rebuilt many times since, last time being in 1870 after the 1860s civil strife in Mount Lebanon
Mount Lebanon
Mount Lebanon , as a geographic designation, is a Lebanese mountain range, averaging above 2,200 meters in height and receiving a substantial amount of precipitation, including snow, which averages around four meters deep. It extends across the whole country along about , parallel to the...
.
- St. Antoine (مار انطونيوس)
Current belief is that it was established as a church in 1903 and was supported by the Abi Roufayel family. The church steeple was erected in 1938.
- St. Elie (مار الياس الحي)
First mass is known to have been held there on 26 December 1909. It was renovated in 1923.
Educational institutions
- Bdadoun Public School
Founded in 1921 by Selim Nouhra. It later became a public school.
- Ecole Saint Elie
Founded in 1941 by Elias Tannous who donated the land to Saint Famille Maronite nuns.
Geography
Bdadoun has an area of 143 hectares.It is 352 meters http://www.fallingrain.com/world/LE/5/Bdadun.html to 550 meters http://www.salhani.com/villages_du_liban_b.htm above sea level and 15 km from Beirut
Beirut
Beirut is the capital and largest city of Lebanon, with a population ranging from 1 million to more than 2 million . Located on a peninsula at the midpoint of Lebanon's Mediterranean coastline, it serves as the country's largest and main seaport, and also forms the Beirut Metropolitan...
.
Latitude 33.8100 Longitude 35.5611
Lat (DMS) 33° 48' 36N Long (DMS) 35° 33' 40E
Time zone (est) UTC+2(+3DT)
Bdadoun's bordering towns are Blaybel, Houmal, Wadi Chahrour, Aaytat, Bsous
Bsous
Bsous is a village in the Aley District of Mount Lebanon with an estimated population of 6,000. It is located 200 to 730 meters above sea level and 14 kilometres from the capital, Beirut. It is both a summer resort as well as being inhabited during the winter months. This is due to its proximity to...
and Qmatiyeh. http://www.localiban.org/article.php3?id_article=648. Kahale
Kahale
Kahale is a mountain village in the district of Aley , Lebanon, 13 km from Beirut. Population estimated at 13,000 residents all of which are Maronite Catholics.- Religion :The village has three churches:...
and Kfarshima
Kfarshima
Kfarshima is a town in the Baabda District of the Mount Lebanon Governorate, southeast of Beirut. Kfarshima is the birthplace of the composer and musician, Philemon Wehbi and the singers Melhem Barakat and Majida El Roumi. Also the Birthplace of the Philosopher Shibli Shmayyel...
are close by.
Neighbourhoods in Bdadoun are:
- mar gergess حي مار جرجس
- al3ayn حارةالعين http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rO5M3_3n2Kc
- hay bait Jabbour حي بيت جبور
- hay el sakyieh حي الساقية
- al houweir الحوير
- nkbat el dibbaes نقبة الدباس
- el kalaa القلعة http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSY76HF13fY
- New Kalaa نيو قلعة
- haret badran حارة بدران
- al hirish الحرش
- al hara الحارة
- naher el akhwat نهر الاخوت
- mafraq el nabeh مفرق النبع
- al solouk
- al fashlaa الفشلى
- roumieh
- jal el mard جل المرد
- haret shalhoub حارة شلهوب
- karm el kaneeseh
- khalf el hara
- al shahharaa
- haret bayt el khoury
- haret bayt nouhra
- al nijmeh
- al tiyyar
- ain el teeneh
- al dabsheh
- al jneyneh
- sheer maayqil
- horsh Abou Sakr
- al qasheh.
Arts and Entertainment
- Folklore singer Zaghloul, known mostly for his Zajal style of songs recorded in "Haflit Bdadoun" made by AL FEGHALI Family.
- Bdadoun Festival for the Plum Harvest (Mahrajaen el Ganaerik) made by al cha3li. A parade day followed by a night of singing and dancing. Major Lebanese folklore singers have been guests to this festival every year.
Notable Families
Families who have roots in Bdadoun are:- Feghali (also spelled Feghaly) http://www.angelfire.com/tx/feghali/fahdfegh.html
- SemaanSemaanSemaan is one of the oldest Christian surnames in existence and is mainly found in the Levant area of the Middle East...
(Simon) - Daou (also spelled Daow, Daw, Dao)
- Moubarak (also spelled Mubarak)
- Abi Khalil
- Shayaa (also spelled Shaya)
- Aoun http://www.maronite-heritage.com/html/aoun.html
- Chamoun (also spelled Shamoun) (Arabic: شمعون, Sham'ūn)
- Merheb
- Murad (also spelled Mourad) (theories exist of the linkage with the Murad Ottoman sultans)
- Chidiak (also spelled Shidiak, Shedyak)
- Badawi
- Bou Rouphael
- HawayekHawayekThe surname Howayek, Hawayek and its variants are common in the Christian Catholic Maronite clan from Lebanon. The majority of the members live in three Lebanese towns Bdadoun, Hsarat and Helta as well as some other smaller towns in Lebanon and Syria in addition to the family members who have...
(also spelled Hoayek, Hoyek)
Emigration
Like most other Lebanese towns, a large proportion of people from Bdadoun emigrated to different places around the worldLebanese diaspora
Lebanese diaspora refers to Lebanese migrants and their descendants who by choice or coercion emigrated from Lebanon and now reside in other countries....
. There are people from Bdadoun who permanently live in the United States of America, Puerto Rico, United Kingdom
Lebanese British
Lebanese British include people originating from Lebanon who have migrated to the United Kingdom and their descendents.-History and settlement:...
, France, Australia, Mexico, Brazil, Canada, Argentina, Colombia, Venezuela and elsewhere.
The pull factors for emigration were mostly:
- Higher incomes
- better availability of employment
- better medical facilities
- better education facilities
- political stability.
Notable Persons
- Asaad el Feghali (father of Mr Nabil Al Feghali) poet (aka “Blackbird of the Valley”). There is a sculpture of him at the entrance of the village.
- Sabah (Singer)Sabah (singer)Sabah , Wadi Chahrour, Lebanon is a Lebanese singer and actress.She has released over 50 albums and has acted in 98 movies, as well as 20 stage plays...
aka. Janet Georges Feghali http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=orDelUB7_DQ - Halim (Bill) Chibli Feghali relevant figure of Democratic party in Oklahoma USA.