The Arguileh as Witness to Lebanese Life
If one was to look for an item that unites the Lebanese, a man2oushé is a good place to start. But as popular as the breakfast staple is, there is another object that has continuously witnessed all aspects of Lebanese public life.
From politics, to weddings to modern art, the mighty arguileh established itself as an ultimate cultural icon, an icon that was never camera-shy.
Politics and Activism
In the Last few weeks, we had many events that involved an iconic picture of an Arguileh
The Tripoli clashes
The Jalledib Bridge Protests
Whatever the nature of the protest, the arguileh has always been around. Remember those famous tents in Beirut?
Tent city
On the Road
Speaking of the Jalledib protests, it created one of Lebanon’s largest traffic jams and people got bored out of their minds. Luckily, help was at hand:
Arguileh Delivery
These guys will make sure an arguileh is always a phone call away
If you can’t afford a delivery, you can always share one with your traffic buddies
A treat for all seasons
Winter
..or Summer
Social Events
Sharing a smoke in traffic is just one aspect of the Lebanese bonding over arguilehs. Whenever two or more Lebanese meet, an arguileh is likely to join soon
Courtship
Weddings
Date Nights
Girls night out
Boys day out
House parties
Art and Commerce
Arguiles are not just companions, they’re also the subject matter of artistic expression and commercial enterprise
Photography
Modern Sculpture
Artisanry
Billboards
Posters
… And if everything else fails..
You can always build your own arguileh:
This is by no means a comprehensive list. If you have a classic picture of an arguileh, a picture you believe belongs here, please by all means let me know about it in the comments section..