The Diaspora Village (DV), a project initiated by Lebanese Diaspora Energy (LDE), has launched their first Christmas Festival, celebrating the various and unique Christmas traditions from around the world. By creating a melting-pot for the season, the DV Christmas Festival invites Lebanese expats and locals to come together and celebrate the festive season. Integrated as part of the Batroun Capitale de Noel program, the DV Christmas Festival activities will span across the weekends in December and will include a series of shows and activities from participating countries: Russia, Mexico, Brazil and Nigeria.

The launching ceremony took place on the 4th of December in the heart of the Diaspora Village with a private CSR event to honor the Order of Nurses under the message “They left their homes, so we could return to ours”.  During the opening ceremony the nurses enjoyed a workshop given by the International Coaching Federation, a meditation and yoga session by DarmaJi, in addition to an entertaining and inspirational talk by George Khabbaz.

As for the upcoming activities, the Russian embassy will take over the weekend of the 11th & 12th of December and their celebration will include Russian Choir performances, as well as a dedicated Christmas market that will sell food, hot wine, handmade souvenirs, and other ornaments. As for the Mexican embassy, their activities will be held on the weekend of the 18th & 19th of December and will include Mariachi performances, a market that will sell goods and handcrafts, as well as a dedicated area to showcase traditional Mexican costumes and photos.

The Lebanese Brazilian Union will host their activities on the 26th of December alongside the Nigerian embassy. The Brazilian celebration, which is sponsored by LISAS will include, savory bites and refreshments from LISAS food, samba shows as well as a live painting exhibition by Bernard Renno to honor the 140-year anniversary of the Lebanese immigration to Brazil.  As for the Nigeria activities they will include a market with popular Nigerian items for sale, such as fabrics, Jollof rice, Zobo and Chin-Chin, in addition to a performance by the Nigerian Cultural Dancers.

Commenting on the occasion, Marie-Antoinette Attiyeh, the DV Manager stated “In line with our aim to create a hub for Lebanese Diaspora in their homeland, this Christmas Festival reinforces our objectives and brings Christmas traditions and festivities from around the world to the heart of Batroun. Throughout the series of planned activities, we are creating a platform for expats and locals to reconnect, engage and exchange. We hope to make this a yearly awaited celebration.”

Further commenting on the occasion, Pascale Dahrouj, President of LDE stated: “The aim of LDE has always been to support, engage and celebrate Lebanese expats, and connect them to each other and to their homeland through networking opportunities, cultural initiatives, and the fundamental concept of “Lebanity”. By launching the DV Christmas Festival we hope to boost the culture exchange between the Lebanese and the participating countries.”

The Diaspora Village (DV) aims to create a HUB for the Lebanese Diaspora in their homeland in order to build and support a cohesive and dynamic community. Diaspora Village’s visitors will interact culturally, socially, educationally, and economically in a unique place that combines a museum, a guest house with restaurants, an indoor multipurpose hall for conferences-retreat-seminars-book signatures-exhibition, and an outdoor square for special events as well as several Houses for Diaspora of Lebanese origin around the world.