March 21, 2001

On Mother’s Day, flowers are placed on tombs in remembrance.

Happy Mothers' Day! (?) Here, the event comes in March, not in May like in Europe and the States. It is a big event in the life of Zababdeh and is celebrated quite widely.

One of the teachers gathers flower bouquets for the children to distribute.

First, families visit the graves of their departed loved ones to place flowers on the headstones. Then in the afternoon, there is a special Mass, following which is a big celebration in the school hall upstairs. A number of families turn out for this event, Christian and Muslim, including many parents of kids in the school who come from nearby villages to attend. The event seemed big to us, but apparently this year it was much smaller than usual, due to the situation. Flowers are given out, and students dance traditional dances. This year, one of the teachers - who had just returned from Hajj, the Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca, read some selections from her poetry. Marthame also accompanied some of the eighth grade French students as they sang a song (fortunately Marthame is bilingual in guitar).

A teacher shares poetry in honor of Mother’s Day.

A student dressed in traditional clothing, preparing to share traditional dance.

The event was not without its sobering moment, though, as moments were taken to remember the mothers who had lost children during the Intifada. Overall, it was a joyous occasion, a moment which is often needed these days.