Some of our greatest memories were from our childhood, and if you were raised ‘bel day3a,’ you know that it’s very different from a city upbringing. Here are 15 things you’ll understand if you had a childhood ‘bel day3a’.
1. You grew up saying “eish” instead of “shu”
2. Your mom used to pass around a tray of cigarettes for guests as ‘dyafeh’.
3. Olive-picking was a seasonal ritual that you had with your parents
4. You were afraid of being part of day3a gossip
5. Your evenings consisted of “tfa2o bizir” and eating pomegranate eddem l bet
6. You grew up thinking Beirut was a concrete jungle where dreams are made
7. You frequently joined your mom and “neswen l day3a” for their morning coffee sessions
8. You loved picking grapes yourselves because you thought they tasted better than the store-bought ones
9. Your go-to games? Beit byout and ghommeeda
10. You loved helping your teta and jeddo with house chores
11. You often woke up to a fresh manouche 3al saj and a Bonjus
12. Your core memories include walking through the day3a and being stopped by a herd of sheep that were passing by
13. You knew you were going to have a fun time when there’s an 2a3de 3al veranda
14. Your idea of a “meshwar” was going to the dekkene and buying a sa7be and Bonjus for 500 LL
15. You loved playing card games with your teta like 7areb and Bassra and 7mar