Revelers made their way up a pathway lined by sparkling lights toward a towering Christmas tree in the middle of Waterfront City Dbayeh.
Around them, vendors were selling mulled wine and hot chocolate, gingerbread and sausages, accompanied by the strains of a harp.
Children clutching candy canes lined up for pictures with Santa as elves and giant gingerbread men mingled among the crowd, under the 8-meter-tall tree, with a Nativity scene represented by shadow puppets.
“Le Marche des Delices” (“The Market of Delights”) is Lebanon’s homage to a European-style Christmas market, like the famous annual Strasbourg Christmas market.
The event, organized by event company Tripleye under the patronage of the Tourism Ministry, is the first of its kind to be put on in Lebanon, but not the last, Tripleye co-founder Nadine Maalouf said.
“It’s inspired by a European Christmas market,” she said. “It’s a real food and beverage market, with the food specialties of the Christmas period, a lot of European dishes and desserts. When you say a European market, you talk about simplicity, you talk about decorations you talk about roaming musicians.”
If the event is successful, the concept could be applied to occasions apart from Christmas in the future, she said.
“We want to repeat it later on for other occasions,” she said. “It could be for Ramadan, it could be for Easter - we’re not sure yet, but it will always be ‘Le Marche des Delices.’”
The entertainment on offer includes Christmas parades three times a night, street musicians and a harpist, and a children’s corner with activities and children’s shows.
Over 45 exhibitors have joined the market, including local vendors hawking a variety of Christmas-themed foods and drinks.
Along with the sellers and entertainers, the market includes a section where visitors can learn about and contribute to the work of charitable organizations, among them the Lebanese Red Cross.
“While we are busy opening our gifts on Christmas Eve, they’re on alert waiting for any incident or accident that might happen, so we wanted to thank them on this occasion,” Maalouf said. “Our message is to always remember the spirit of Christmas. It’s not about the food, it’s not about the gifts - it’s about remembering the needy people and supporting the ones in need, and to spread joy.”
‘Le Marche des Delices’ continues through Sunday, from 4 p.m. to midnight, at Waterfront City Dbayeh.
This article has been adapted from its original source.
