The Cedar tree is an important national symbol of Lebanon representing eternity, steadiness, happiness, and prosperity.
While of course, it is not a flower, for WPCC I chose to honor the cedar tree given its historical and cultural
significance.
Ingredients
This simple dish is comprised of tabouleh salad, pita bread, a little labne and an olive. Shoutout to @OpenSesame for providing the delicious ingredients!
Historical Significance
A bit of background on the Cedar tree and why it is emblazoned on the Lebanese flag. The trees are first mentioned in the Epic of Gilgamesh; The Cedars of God are described as a divine, shady forest fought over by the demi-gods and the humans. It is said that the expanse was once protected by Mesopotamian Gods and that Gilgamesh himself used cedar wood to build his great city. The trees also hold significant religious importance today, as they are mentioned in the Bible on several occasions: Solomon used their wood to build Jerusalem and Emperor Hadrian ruled them as royal domains which stopped their destruction.
The Cedar trees were a valued resource throughout history. The Phoenicians used it to build their ships, Egyptians to make paper, and other civilizations like the Romans and Turks exploited the natural treasure for trade. In modern history, the cedar trees continued to get exploited despite Queen Victoria’s attempt to protect them. During WWI, British soldiers significantly cut down the tree population for railroads. Today, the Bulk of the Cedar trees are located on the Arz Mountains in Lebanon. The site is well protected and cherished, UNESCO named the forest one of the World Heritage sites. The forests serve as a reminder to the Lebanese people of the great heritage they hail from.