https://arab.news/ph6kn
- More than half of country鈥檚 population in need of food assistance, according to the UN World Food Programme
- Easter items from candles to chocolates have become too expensive for many to afford as purchasing power drops
BEIRUT: As the women gather around the table to make maamoul cookies for Easter, they all feel that this year鈥檚 celebrations will be different, and probably for the worse.
Hala Dagher, speaking on behalf of her sisters, said: 鈥淭his year we decided to split the cost of maamoul and only make half of the usual quantity.
鈥淢aamoul cookies represent blessings and we cannot celebrate Easter without them, even in a small amount.鈥�
The Lebanese are known for their attachment to family and traditions, especially on special occasions and holidays. One of the country鈥檚 traditions, especially at Easter, is that women gather a few days before the big weekend to make maamoul cookies filled with walnuts, pistachios, or dates.
The cookies are among the most famous Lebanese sweets prepared for Easter. The dough is made of semolina, sugar, butter, rose water and blossom water, and can be covered in icing sugar. The dough is traditionally made on Good Friday and the cookies baked the following day.
Maamoul cookies are among the most famous Lebanese sweets prepared for Easter. (Shutterstock)
However, austerity has hit many Lebanese homes as all ingredients are priced in US dollars.
Very few people have decorated for Easter this year, and many will not be buying eggs to paint as a symbol of resurrection and life.
Those who buy chocolate eggs are rare as the treats have become too expensive.
A World Food Program report showed that more people than ever are relying on food assistance across Lebanon as the country suffers from one of the world鈥檚 worst economic crises.
It said: 鈥淢ore than half of the Lebanese population are now in need of assistance to cover their food and other basic needs.
鈥淭he local currency鈥檚 sharp decline is paralyzing people鈥檚 purchasing power as the Lebanese lira reaches a new record low each day, propelling food price increases.鈥�
Dagher said: 鈥淲e have been dispensing with many holiday traditions because they are out of our budget.
鈥淲e even decided to make homemade Palm Sunday candles, using an olive branch and some ribbon to decorate them. We cannot deprive our children of joy. The simplest candle costs $15 and that鈥檚 1,500,000 Lebanese pounds, the equivalent of half of my salary as a public sector employee.鈥�
Samah Dagher, a relative of Hala鈥檚, makes floral party decorations for private events.
Protesters demand inflation adjustments to pensions outside the central bank in Beirut on March 30. (AFP)
She said: 鈥淓aster this year is the worst; the rich would rather spend the holidays abroad.
鈥淔amilies who have relatives living abroad visit them for the holidays. The well-off families who remain in Lebanon are reluctant to spend their money on luxuries because they are afraid of a darker future.
鈥淭heir money has been withheld by banks so they are very cautious when it comes to spending their cash because they have no confidence in the state.
鈥淎lthough I鈥檓 barely working, I still believe that all children must enjoy the holidays and carry candles on Palm Sunday, so I agreed with a priest in Beirut to split the cost of decorating children鈥檚 candles. The child brings the candle and we decorate it. That way we keep the joy of the holiday alive.鈥�
Claudine Pichon, a Lebanese woman of French origins who sells homemade sweets, said: 鈥淪ome families who used to order one kilogram of maamoul cookies are now ordering half a kilo. However, others are barely affected by the economic crisis and have not changed their usual orders.鈥�
Pichon is amazed at the price differences from just a year ago.
She said: 鈥淎 kilo of pistachios cost $16 last year; it鈥檚 $22 this year. A big box of butter costs 9,500,000 Lebanese pounds, compared to 3,000,000 Lebanese pounds last year.
鈥淚f we take into account the cost of gas, electricity, and delivery, the cost of making and selling maamoul cookies has doubled.鈥�
Maamoul prices vary from one pastry shop to another but the price of a kilo with dates in popular stores ranges between $12 and $22.
The price of maamoul with walnuts is between $19 and $26, while with pistachios it exceeds $30. The price of a kilo of chocolate eggs is $35.
A vendor sells traditional sweets at a market in the southern city of Sidon on March 23, 2023 as Muslims shop during the holy fasting month of Ramadan. (AFP)
Pichon added: 鈥淧eople want to rejoice at Easter, and we, as sweetmakers, cannot raise our prices much, otherwise no one will buy our products.鈥�
A great Easter tradition in Lebanon is egg tapping. As family members gather after Sunday lunch, each person chooses a decorated colored egg before engaging in the egg-tapping competition. The person whose egg remains uncracked wins.
However, the competition may be scarce in the country this year with the price of a box of eggs at 500,000 Lebanese pounds.
Shops would usually be filled with chocolate eggs and Easter decorations at this time of year, but very few people are shopping ahead of the festival.
Nawal, a clothing store employee in the Furn El Chebbak, said: 鈥淪ince everything is priced in US dollars but people are still getting paid in Lebanese pounds, the people鈥檚 purchasing power has significantly dropped.
鈥淢any no longer visit shops that carry well-known brands and shop at outlet stores.鈥�
Large numbers of Christian youths have left the country in the last three years, particularly in the aftermath of the Beirut port explosion.
The presidential vacuum is another issue, while tensions remain between Christian parties.
Christian lawmakers were scheduled to respond to the invitation of Maronite Patriarch Bechara Boutros Al-Rahi for a meeting of prayer and repentance on April 5, in an attempt to curb tensions.
Meanwhile, charities are struggling to provide relief and assistance for needy families. Religious authorities urge Christians to remain in Lebanon, but all the people can do this Easter is pray for their country鈥檚 resurrection.