Stories My Father Told Me, by Helen Zughaib Click next to see each progressive piece of art in the collection.

Eid Mar Elias Traditionally in Lebanon and Syria, Christian children celebrate their Saint's Day instead of their birthday. Those who are named Paul (Bulous) for example, celebrate St. Paul's Day as their own feast day. My father's feast day is Eid Mar Elias. When he was a child, the celebration lasted all day and it began by going to the church named Saint Elias. In the main yard of the church, nawbis (musical bands) from surrounding villages would assemble. Sword and dabki dancers would arrive. Children, dogs and beggars thronged the churchyard in large numbers. The young men (shabab) would be trying to impress the young ladies (sabaya) with their prowess in foot races, weight lifting and occasionally, horse races. Those children named after the saint were given new clothes and more than the usual spending money to buy and sample all the treats being offered for sale by the various vendors. In the late afternoon, tired and happy, they would return home to wait for friends and relatives to come with more gifts and good wishes.