Lebanon's multi-faith residents in Sidon color Easter eggs in a display of unity

Published March 27th, 2016 - 10:19 GMT
School children in Sidon painting eggs in 2015 at the annual event. (Photo courtesy of The Daily Star)
School children in Sidon painting eggs in 2015 at the annual event. (Photo courtesy of The Daily Star)

Residents of the southern city of Sidon prepared for Easter Sunday, marking the occasion with coexistence, as both Christians and Muslims brought out their artistic sides by coloring Easter eggs.

Dozens of students from various religious backgrounds gathered to creatively express themselves by painting more than 700 Easter eggs to will be distributed Sunday morning in the courtyard of Tirani Villa.

The activity is annually prepared by the National Evangelical Institute for Girls and Boys in an attempt to spread joy to the hearts of children.

"The Evangelical school is our second home and we take part in all its activities," student Jana Roumani told The Daily Star.

She added enthusiastically that "despite the fact that most of the students are Muslims, they live in cohabitation... We boil [Easter] eggs and color them before distributing them among churches to wish them a happy Easter."

Although she is young, Roumani insisted that "sectarianism is unacceptable...we must learn to coexist... as sectarianism can only lead to wars."

"In just a few minutes the color of the egg will turn into a joyful one," another student added.

Hilal Shehab, who was racing his classmates in a private egg decorating competition, said that students wanted this year's volunteer work to exemplify national unity.

"If we learn in our younger age to exercise diversity between sects, then we might be able to resolve bigger issues nationwide in the future," Qassem Qamareddine said, reflecting the thoughts of other students.

The head of the high school department, Chadi Mechantaf, said that the school aims to serve the residents of Sidon by preserving and accepting the others' rights to be different.

He said that the Easter activity was organized by the students as a message to show that Sidon is for everyone.

Chocolate shops in the southern city also witnessed a high turnout by people buying their supply of artistically decorated chocolate Easter eggs.

By Mohammad Zaatari
 
 

 

 

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