Bdadoun Explained

Official Name:Bdadoun
Native Name:بدادون
Pushpin Map:Lebanon
Pushpin Label Position:bottom
Pushpin Mapsize:300
Pushpin Map Caption:Location in Lebanon
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Type1:Governorate
Subdivision Name1:Mount Lebanon Governorate
Subdivision Type2:District
Subdivision Name2:Aley District
Unit Pref:Imperial
Population Blank1 Title:Ethnicities
Population Blank2 Title:Religions
Utc Offset:+2
Timezone Dst:+3
Coordinates:33.81°N 35.5611°W
Elevation M:490

Bdadoun (Arabic: بدادون) (also Bdadun, Bde‘doun, Bdādūn), is a town in Mount Lebanon which makes up one of the 70 towns and villages in the Lebanese district of Aley. It has an estimated population of 3,000. It is 499 meters above sea level and 15 kilometres from the capital Beirut. It is known as a summer holiday location.

Etymology

The name Bdadoun derives from the Phoenician noun Bd-Adoun (بِد-اَدون) or "House of Adoun", the Canaanite god of the sun Adoun or Adonis, also known as Tammuz.

History

In the year 1144, fighting erupted between the Christians in the North Lebanon regions of Jbeil and Keserwan districts. The king Barquq (الملك الظاهر برقوق) took the opportunity and ordered an invasion of that Christian dominated area. The result was an outflow of people that settled in the Chouf District. This region (especially the areas surrounding Beirut) was ruled by the Tanukhids (التنوخيّون). The Tanukhs (also called Buhturs) where the Druze hereditary lords of the Gharb (area surrounding Beirut). The Buhturs were replaced by the Ma'ans when the Ottomans conquered in the early 16th century. The area surrounding Bdadoun remained under autonomous Ottoman rule until the end of World War I.

Agriculture

The first settlers of Bdadoun came from the North Lebanon Maronite families as peasants. They found an uninviting land made of mostly rocky landscape strewn with oaks, wild figs, vines and some olive trees. Local dwellers built stone terraces planted fruit trees such as apricot, almonds, pear, apple, pomegranates, and plum trees. It is the latter, that Bdadoun is mostly known for plums (Turkish: Erik or Turkish: Can Erik; Arabic: البَرقوق|al-barqūq) and holds an annual harvest festival in May. This plum is believed to be a close relative of the Greengage.

This is not to be mistaken with the Chinese Plum or Loquat which is also grown in Bdadoun and called Akkidinya or Akkadeneh. (Arabic: اككي دني. Turkish: yeni dunya, yedi dunya)

Religion

The Christian Maronite parish of Bdadoun is part of the Beirut diocese and has four churches:[1]

Educational institutions

Geography

Bdadoun has an area of 143 hectares.

It is 352 meters[2] to 550 meters[3] above sea level and 15 km from Beirut.
Latitude 33.8100 Longitude 35.5611
Lat (DMS) 33° 48' 36N Long (DMS) 35° 33' 40E
Time zone (est) UTC+2(+3DT)

Bdadoun's bordering towns are Blaybel, Houmal, Wadi Chahrour, Aaytat, Bsous and Qmatiyeh.[4] Kahale and Kfarshima are close by.

Arts and Entertainment

Notable Persons

Notes and References

  1. http://www.rootsweb.com/~lbnwgw/churches.htm Churches
  2. Web site: Maps, Weather, and Airports for Bdadun, Lebanon. November 13, 2007. https://web.archive.org/web/20071113200919/http://www.fallingrain.com/world/LE/5/Bdadun.html. 2007-11-13.
  3. http://www.salhani.com/villages_du_liban_b.htm Villages du Liban
  4. Web site: Cartes du caza de Aaley - Localiban. www.localiban.org.