Flag fashion sweeps the country [Agence France Presse]
Lebanon flaunts the new cedar chic on everything from cookies to cars
BEIRUT: It is finally trendy to be Lebanese in Lebanon. Since the launch of the "uprising for independence" a few weeks ago, the Lebanese national colors have become the ‘in’ thing to wear, eat and drink. Artisans are stitching red and white bags, bakers are making cookies featuring the flag’s cedar tree, artists are drawing paintings with national symbols and jewelers are engraving bracelets with patriotic slogans.
When they feel cold, demonstrators and concert-goers wrap the Lebanese flag around their shoulders, particularly in Martyrs’ Square which has become the capital’s new point of convergence.
The square is where massive protests erupted after the burial of former Premier Rafik Hariri, whose February 14 assassination awakened national feelings against Syria’s military and political domination.
In a country where some refused to salute the flag because it symbolized a regime led by Christians and their wealthy Muslim allies prior to the 1975-1990 civil war, the national emblem is finally being adopted by all.
Even the Lebanese resistance group Hizbullah staged its first massive demonstration under a sea of Lebanese flags.
"Before the war, I refused to stand at the national anthem and salute the flag every morning in class," said former teacher Rouba Khalil.
"Back then, a large part of the population – namely many Muslims, leftists and nationalists – associated the Lebanese flag, the cedar tree and the national anthem with the regime," she explained.
"Now people make the difference between the nation and the regime," said Khalil, proudly sporting stickers of the Lebanese flag on her jacket.
Today, phones ring to the tune of the national anthem, cars roam the streets with Lebanese flags fluttering from their windows and music shops sell compilations of patriotic songs that have accompanied street protests.
Red-hot music star Haifa Wehbe abandoned the Arab stage for a day to read stories to children as part of national unity actions. Famous singers have put aside old feuds to make collective patriotic music videos.
Under layers of gold necklaces, even the most fashion-conscious social butterflies are not afraid to be seen walking the pavements of boutique-lined streets wearing badges calling for "freedom" on their chic jackets.
A downtown cafe advertisement even attempts to lure clients – now busy with street protests – to "demonstrate your love" by buying sandwiches at its outlets in response to opposition calls for an economic revival.
The Lebanese entrepreneurial spirit has prompted jeweler Leon Shirikjian to launch a "nationalistic" collection of silver bracelets engraved with a church, a mosque and the first line of the national anthem: "All for the nation."
Caterer Hala Beydoun is also engaged in the thriving trade. She has been baking cookies decorated with Lebanese flags, cedar trees and even gingerbread "protestors" with icing messages crying for "freedom, sovereignty and independence."
Need to flick ash from your cigarette? Buy one of Maryse Mokdessi’s handmade porcelain ashtrays declaring in large print: "100 percent Lebanese."
At the Bokja shop, which usually creates exclusive furniture made from Central Asian tapestries, Maria Hibri has sold out an entire collection of sofas made on the spur of the moment using fabrics with pictures of flag-waving demonstrators on Martyrs’ Square.
Suha Thumi’s company can hardly meet demand, both in Lebanon and among an emigrant community following developments at home, for her t-shirts printed with witty messages about Lebanese identity.
"One of our best sellers was a t-shirt with a message on the back reading: ‘yalla bye,’ which protestors wore when Syria announced it was pulling out its forces from Lebanon," she said.
Apart from the Lebanese flag, loyalist and opposition followers agree on one thing: Roula Bazerji’s handmade bracelets which say it all: "Kafa," (enough).