2011 Lebanese Festival: July 7-10, 2011

It's an interesting experience having to title all of my more recent posts a little differently, as these key festivals come around for the second time.

As I mentioned last year, the Lebanese Festival is the Lebanese equivalent of the Greek Festival in almost every way: both are run by orthodox churches, both involve ethnic food, ethnic deserts, ethnic dancing, music, and fun games for the children. Having had the opportunity now to enjoy both festivals now for a second time, I understand a little more closely though the subtle differences between the two celebrations.

One of the main difference between the two festivals is the length each has been running. Whereas the Greek Festival is firmly established (26 years old) and brings in national politicians (remember Michael Ignatieff was there last year), the Lebanese Festival is still relatively new (this is only its 10th year). Consequently, the Greek Festival is very polished and smooth, and usually runs without so much as a hitch. The Lebanese Festival, on the other hand, has a schedule, but I've yet to see any of the events run on time, or exactly as listed.

Case in point, I showed up at 11:00 AM on Friday, July 8, to see the advertised Lebanese music videos and "Cooking With Tony" session. However, none of the advertised events were held until 1:00 PM, when the Briek Competition (in which I competed) was held.

What the Lebanese Festival lacks in organization and punctuality, it makes up in fun in spades. Everything about the Lebanese Festival is designed to entertain its guests, and they put on a good show. Last year I think I missed the point. I couldn't get past the fact that it seemed like a less punctual version of the Greek Festival. After a second year though, I've come to appreciate what makes the Lebanese special: it's a big party, and everyone's invited.

(With a kitchen in the back of the hall, the Lebanese Festival has a pretty slick operation running with its food distribution. As usual, I ordered the massive mixed platter, with tabbouleh - a salad of finely chopped parsley, tomato and fine cracked wheat seasoned with mint and tossed with olive oil and lemon juice; hummus - a chick pea dip served with pita bread and olive oil; kafta - grilled swewers of ground beef seasoned with onion, parsley, and spices; and grape leaves stuffed with rice, tomato and onion, parsley cooked in olive oil and lemon juice.)

(For desert I had the mixed desert plate, with three different kinds of baklava, date-filled ma'amoul, and I traded one of my baklava pieces with a student I taught for a piece of his awamat.)

(Any ethnic festival must have a table for crafts. It's a requirement it seems.)

(The goal of the breeq competition is to drink the water from the breeq the quickest, with the catch that the jug can't touch your lips.)

(The breeq - pronounced "breek" - is a traditional Lebanese water jug.)

(Victor, in the middle, would eventually be crowned the winner. I think it was unfair, since I actually drank all of my water - as per the rules - while as you can see here that he left most of the water running down the front of his shirt.)

(Perhaps the aspect I appreciated the most about the Lebanese Festival, was the creativity in which the organizers presented the standard festival events. This children's dance exhibition was run as a parody of "So You Think You Can Dance?" The judges of So You Think You Can Dabke? each spoofed a different judge of the original show, and it was obvious the children were having a great time.)

(The two girls in the previous pictures each tied for first place, and so they competed in a "dance off!" Much excitement and cheering from the crowd was present.)

(In between the events, the boys and I took turns rocking out on Rock Band.)

(Victor and Nick, power through Baba O'Riley. Victor wanted to make sure everyone noticed his Hendrix-like skills. I was told to inform you that he didn't miss a note on his solo.)

Italian Week!: September 10-12, 2010

We've had an ethnic festival for the Greeks and the Lebanese, so now I guess it's about time to have one for the Italians too. Like both the Greek Fest and Lebanese Festival, Italian Week (technically just a weekend) is a fundraiser. However, unlike both of the Fests, this fundraiser is for the new Italian Cultural Centre rather than a nearby Orthodox Church. Either because of this, or simply by chance, a few differences existed between Italian Week and the Greek and Lebanese festivals.

(See? I'm standing in front of a map of Italia at Italian Week. That makes me cultured.)

While Italian Week featured the obligatory fast-food quality ethnic cuisine that all cultural festivals in Halifax seem to have, thankfully the organizers decided to leave out the "talent show" (think: twelve year old girls "singing"/hurting my ears) and children's games. This made for a much quieter environment and freed up time and room for more adult-oriented activities like classic Frederico Fellini film showings, wine tasting lessons, and an Italian language class.

After leaving the "festival" (I'm not really sure yet as to what I should classify it) I noticed that a "band" of sorts had decided to protest in front of the centre. Actually, I'm also not sure if they were protesting, but you can hardly call what they were doing "playing". Furthermore, why else would they be standing right in front of the entrance, annoying everyone/blocking the way, unless they had something personal against Italy?

Surprisingly, the head organizer decided not to try to shoo them away, but instead was begging them to come inside the gate and play. After some disorganized discussion amongst the group, that was in keeping with its disorganized playing and appearance, the band members relented and started torturing their instruments inside the gate instead. It was at this point that I took my leave.

Lebanese Festival: July 8-11, 2010

This year marks the ninth time the Lebanese Festival has taken place in Halifax. Like Greek Fest in June, the Halifax Lebanese Festival is a fund raiser for a local Orthodox Church (San Antonio's Antiochian in this case), and follows much the same format of ethnic dancing, ethnic food, and games for the children that makes Greek Fest so popular.

(You can't have a Mediterranean-themed Festival in Halifax without being able to kick a soccer ball at a teenager. I think it might be in the requirements to get a festival permit from the city.)

(A dunk tank! Greek Fest should have thought of that.)

While the Lebanese Festival didn't have a visit from Michael Ignatieff, it was able to amass an impressive field of local, provincial, and national politicians to speak at its opening ceremony on July 9th. It also had an amazing menu of food to taste like the delicious Tabouli, Kafta, and Baklava, and even Zaatar, prepared traditionally on the Saj (a convex, domed, cooking device).

If you could last through the painful "Halifax's Got Talent" talent show, which was essentially pre-teen girls dancing and singing horribly while their friends shrieked in high-pitched shrill voices, you were rewarded with some excellent Lebanese Dancing. I more or less show up to these Festivals specifically for the food and dancing.