Language

          Ancient Syrians spoke Syriac (a Semitic language) and Greek. Later Syrians spoke Aramaic, the language Jesus spoke. (Modern-day people in the small hill village of Maalula still speak Aramaic, & it is used in church liturgies there)

       The earliest phonetic alphabet in the world, Ugarit, was discovered in Syria in ruins dating from the 14^th century BC. Arabic (also a Semitic language) is the official language of the Syrian Arab Republic of today, French is the second most common language, but it is being rivaled by English.

Road to Damascus

Aleppo boys

Rites of Passage:

          Marriage is the main goal in nearly every Syrian family; so  weddings are a major social event & rite of passage. The actual marriage, or exchange of vows, often takes place a few days or weeks before the wedding reception in the presence of a religious leader, the Imam or sometimes called sheikh. A marriage contract is signed before witnesses, and a mahr “dowry” is paid by the groom’s family to the bride’s family (Muslim and Christians alike). The wedding reception is a festive event for which the groom’s family provides dinner & sweets.

             Children live at home until marriage, & sons might bring their wives to live with their families. Upon the death of one parent, an adult child, usually a son is required to help take care of the surviving parent & siblings.

              After a death, there are three days of mourning during which friends, relatives & neighbors visit the family of the deceased.

Traditions

                  Syria is a culturally gifted country and has a traditional society.  Strong moral and ethical values are placed on family, religion, education, self discipline and respect.  Syrians place a high degree on tradition and present themselves well both at home and abroad.  It is normal to find Syrian families all over the world who still live there lives as if they were in the Old Country.

                  Traditional Houses of the Old Cities in Damascus, Aleppo and the other Syrian cities are preserved and traditionally the living quarters are arranged around one or more courtyards, typically with a fountain in the middle supplied by spring water, and decorated with citrus trees, grape vines, and flowers arranged for the comfort of the family and entertaining guests.  The aura and ambiance of this atmosphere is quite breathtaking and relaxing.

                   Syrians always welcome guests, friends and strangers into there homes.  They do everything possible to make there guest feel right at home.  The host is only pleased when they see their guests pleased.  They will offer food and drinks and even the wall painting if you stare at it long enough.  And they do not accept no as an answer, to them it is an insult. 

Malula House

Sous seller

Sous is a cool drink!

Only in the summer time you'll find many Sous sellers in almost every street!
It's so cheap and cool, with its special taste and Black color!

 

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