Lebanese Mexicans

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Lebanese Mexicans
libano-mexicano
مكسيكي لبناني
Flag of Mexico and Lebanon.svg
A hybrid of the Mexican and Lebanese flags.
Total population
Lebanon-born residents:
  • 991 (2017). [1]

Mexicans of Lebanese descent:

Regions with significant populations
Nuevo León, Yucatán, Veracruz, Coahuila, Jalisco, Sinaloa, Mexico City, Baja California, Guanajuato, Chihuahua, Durango, Puebla
Languages
Mexican Spanish and Lebanese Arabic
Religion
Predominantly Christianity, minority Islam
Related ethnic groups
Lebanese and Lebanese diaspora

Lebanese Mexicans refers to Mexican citizens of Lebanese origin.

Contents

Although Lebanese Mexicans made up less than 5% of the total immigrant population in Mexico during the 1930s, they constituted half of the immigrant economic activity. [14]

Lebanese influence in Mexican culture can be seen most particularly in Mexican cuisine, where they have introduced many foods and dishes and created their own recipes such as al pastor .

Interethnic marriage in the Lebanese community, regardless of religious affiliation, is very high; most have only one parent with Lebanese ethnicity. As a result, some of them speak Arabic fluently. But the majority, especially among younger generations, speak Spanish as first language.

Carlos Slim, formerly the richest man in the world, [15] is an example of Lebanese Mexican success in Mexican society.

Migration history

Lebanese immigration to Mexico started in the 19th and early 20th centuries. [16] In 1892, the first Lebanese arrived in Mexico from Beirut in French ships to Mexican ports such as Puerto Progreso, Veracruz and Tampico. At that time, Lebanon was not an independent nation; the territory was held by the Ottoman Empire and later became a French protectorate. Roughly 100,000 Arabic-speakers settled in Mexico during this time period. They settled in significant numbers in Yucatán, Veracruz, Puebla, Mexico City and the northern part of the country (mainly in the states of Baja California, Nuevo León, Sinaloa, Chihuahua, Coahuila, and Durango, as well as the city of Tampico and Guadalajara).

Although Lebanese people made up less than 5% of the total immigrant population in Mexico during the 1930s, they constituted half of the immigrant economic activity. [14] During the 1948 Israel-Lebanon war and the Six-Day War, thousands of Lebanese left Lebanon and went to Mexico, first arriving in Veracruz.

Another concentration of Lebanese-Mexicans is in Baja California facing the USMexican border, especially in the cities of Mexicali and Tijuana across from San Diego with a large Lebanese-American community (about 280,000), some of whose families have relatives in Mexico. Theresa Alfaro-Velcamp argues that the Porfiriato era, 1876-1910, promoted immigration from the Middle East. However the revolution of 1910-20 saw a surge in xenophobia and nationalism based on "mestizaje." The Middle Eastern community divided into the economically prosperous Lebanese Mexicans who took pride in a distinct Lebanese-Mexican identity, while the downscale remainder often merged into the mestizo community. [17]

Lebanese culture in Mexico

Image of Saint Charbel in a Roman Catholic church in San Luis Potosi, San Luis Potosi Shrine of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, San Luis Potosi city, San Luis Potosi state, Mexico03.jpg
Image of Saint Charbel in a Roman Catholic church in San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí
Statue with prayer requests at the Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral Statue of Saint Charbel.JPG
Statue with prayer requests at the Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral
Lebanese meals in Mexico City Ciudad de Mexico (1).jpg
Lebanese meals in Mexico City

One Lebanese cultural tradition in Mexico itself is to place colored ribbons to the image of St. Charbel to ask some favor or some miracle (see Intercession of saints). The tradition arose in the Candelaria Church in Merced in the historic center of Mexico City.

The immigration of Lebanese to Mexico has influenced Mexican culture, in particular food, including introducing kibbeh and tabbouleh, and even creating recipes such as tacos árabes . By 1765, dates, which originated in North Africa and the Middle East, were introduced into Mexico by the Spaniards. The fusion between Arab and Mexican food has highly influenced the Yucatecan cuisine.

Religion

The majority of Lebanese-Mexicans are Christians who belong to the Maronite, Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox and Melkite Catholic confessions. The Lebanese initially practiced Catholicism independently from other Mexicans, but learned to speak Spanish; Lebanese-Mexican children quickly joined the country's mainstream religious activities.

Since the early 1950s Lebanese Muslims settled in Mexico, in southern regions such as Chiapas, Oaxaca, Michoacan, and Guadalajara. They were responsible for the opening of the first mosque in Mexico, built in the city of Torreon, in Coahuila, and named Suraya Mosque.

Lebanese Embassy in Mexico City Embajada de Libano en Ciudad de Mexico.jpg
Lebanese Embassy in Mexico City

Notable people

Mexicans with Lebanese origins

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Demographics of Mexico</span>

With a population of about 129 million in 2022, Mexico is the 10th most populated country in the world. It is the largest Spanish-speaking country in the world and the third-most populous country in the Americas after the United States and Brazil, the most populous city in the country is the capital, Mexico City, with a population of 9.2 million and its metropolitan area is also the most populated with 21.8 million as of 2020. Approximately 53% of the population lives in one of the 48 large metropolitan areas in the country. In total, about 76% of the population of the country lives in urban areas and 23% lives in rural ones.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arab diaspora</span> Descendants of Arab migrants to other countries

Arab diaspora is a term that refers to descendants of the Arab emigrants who, voluntarily or as forcibly, migrated from their native lands to non-Arab countries, primarily in the Americas, Europe, Southeast Asia, and West Africa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Asian Argentines</span> Ethnic group

Asian Argentines, are Argentine citizens or residents of Asian ancestry. The vast majority trace their ancestry to West Asia, primarily from Lebanon, Syria and Armenia, and the Far East, primarily from China and Japan. However, there are other communities of Indian origin as well. Asian Argentines settled in Argentina in large numbers during several waves of immigration in the 20th century.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lebanese people</span> Citizens or natives of Lebanon

The Lebanese people are the people inhabiting or originating from Lebanon. The term may also include those who had inhabited Mount Lebanon and the Anti-Lebanon Mountains prior to the creation of the modern Lebanese state. The major religious groups among the Lebanese people within Lebanon are Shia Muslims (27%), Sunni Muslims (27%), Maronite Christians (21%), Greek Orthodox Christians (8%), Melkite Christians (5%), Druze (5%), Protestant Christians (1%). The largest contingent of Lebanese, however, comprise a diaspora in North America, South America, Europe, Australia and Africa, which is predominantly Maronite Christian.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ethnic groups of Argentina</span>

Argentina has a racially and ethnically diverse population. The territory of what today is Argentina was first inhabited by numerous indigenous peoples. The first white settlers came during the period of Spanish colonization, beginning in the 16th century. The Spaniards imported African slaves, who would go on to become the first Afro-Argentines. Following independence from Spain in the 19th century and well into the 20th century, numerous migration waves took place, with Argentina being the second most popular destination for migrants in the early 20th century, after the United States. Most of these migrants came from Europe.

Arab Colombians refers to Arab immigrants and their descendants in the Republic of Colombia. Most of the migrants came from Lebanon, Jordan, Syria and Palestine. When they were first processed in the ports of Colombia, they were classified as Turks because what is now Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and Palestine were then territories of the Ottoman Empire. It is estimated that Colombia has a Lebanese population of 3.2 million. Meanwhile, the Palestine population is estimated between 100,000-120,000.

Arab Mexicans are Mexican citizens of Arab ethnic lineage, who identify themselves as Arab. Some of Mexico's Arabs are of Lebanese.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lebanese Brazilians</span> Brazilians of Lebanese ancestry

Lebanese Brazilians, are Brazilians of full or partial Lebanese ancestry, including Lebanese-born immigrants to Brazil. According to the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics, they form some of the largest Asian communities in the country, along with other West Asian and East Asian descendants.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arab Argentines</span> Ethnic group

Arab Argentine refers to Argentine citizens or residents whose ancestry traces back to various waves of immigrants, largely of Arab ethnic, cultural and linguistic heritage and/or identity originating mainly from what is now Lebanon and Syria. It also includes, individuals from the twenty-two countries which comprise the Arab world such as Palestine, Egypt and Morocco. Arab Argentines are one of the largest Arab diaspora groups in the world.

Lebanese Ecuadorians are Ecuadorians who are descended from migrants from Lebanon. There are approximately 100,000 Lebanese people and their descendants living in Ecuador.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Argentina–Lebanon relations</span> Bilateral relations

Diplomatic relations between the countries Argentina and Lebanon, have existed for over a century. Both nations enjoy friendly relations, the importance of which centers on the history of Lebanese immigration to Argentina. There are approximately 1.5 million Argentines of Lebanese descent. The Lebanese community in Argentina is the third largest immigrant community in the country and Argentina is host to the second largest community in Latin America. Both nations are members of the Group of 24 and the United Nations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lebanese Uruguayans</span> Ethnic group

There are about 53,000 to 75,000 Lebanese Uruguayans, or Uruguayans of Lebanese origin. The Lebanese are one of the larger non-European communities, though still not as large a group as most European groups. Relations between Uruguay and Lebanon have always been close.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Emigration from Mexico</span> Mexicans moving abroad

Emigration from Mexico is the movement of people from Mexico to other countries. Immigration from Mexico has risen over the years.

Arab Venezuelans refers to Venezuelan citizens of Arab origin or descent. There are around 1,600,000 Venezuelans of Arab origin, mainly from Lebanon, Syria and Palestine. Most Arab Venezuelans are of Syrian descent with their number between 400,000 and 1 million inhabitants, and Lebanese descent with their number between 341,000 and 500,000.

White Colombians are Colombians who have total or predominantly European or West Asian ancestry. According to the 2018 census, 87.58% of Colombians do not identify with any ethnic group, being either White or Mestizo, which are not categorized separately.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lebanese Colombians</span> Ethnic group

Lebanese Colombians are Colombians of Lebanese descent. Most of the Lebanese community's forebears immigrated to Colombia from the Ottoman Empire in the late 19th and early 20th centuries for economic, political and religious reasons. The first Lebanese moved to Colombia in the late nineteenth century. There was another wave in the early twentieth century. It is estimated that over 10,000 Lebanese immigrated to Colombia from 1900 to 1930.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Baluarte de Santiago</span> Fortification in Veracruz, Mexico

The Baluarte de Santiago, also known as the Bastion of Gunpowder, is located on Street Francisco Canal S/N, between Avenues Gómez Farías and 16 Septiembre, in the port city of Veracruz, Veracruz, Mexico.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Turks in Mexico</span> Ethnic group in Mexico

Turks in Mexico comprise Turkish people living in Mexico and their Mexico-born descendants. The Turkish community is largely made up of immigrants or the descendants of immigrants, born in the Ottoman Empire before 1923, in the Republic of Turkey since then or in neighbouring countries once part of the Ottoman Empire that still have some Turkish population.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Asian Colombians</span> Colombians of Asian descent

Asian Colombians are Asian immigrants in Colombia and their descendants. The majority of Asian Colombians are of Chinese and Japanese descent, with a smaller portion being of Korean descent. There are also notable South Asian, Southeast Asian, Arab, and Middle Eastern descending populations.

References

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  4. "En busca de las huellas árabes en México. La inmigración árabe en los siglos XIX y XX". August 2019. Archived from the original on 31 October 2024. Retrieved 23 December 2024.
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  7. "The biggest enchilada". The Telegraph. Retrieved 28 February 2015. The Mexican-Lebanese community now numbers around 400,000 but punches way above its weight in commerce...
  8. "Inmigración libanesa en México. Un caso de diversidad cultural" (PDF). estudioshistoricos.inah.gob.mx. February 2018. Archived (PDF) from the original on 23 December 2024. Retrieved 23 December 2024.
  9. "Más de 10 millones de libaneses empujan el crecimiento social y económico de América Latina". Infobae . Retrieved 23 December 2019.
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  11. "Inside the Arab heart of Mexico City" . Retrieved 15 July 2023.
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  13. iLoubnan (2009). "Geographical distribution of Lebanese diaspora". Ya Libnan . Archived from the original on 18 May 2021. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
  14. 1 2 "Los árabes de México. Asimilación y herencia cultural" (PDF) (in Spanish). December 2005. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-03-27. Retrieved 2010-04-17.
  15. "Carlos Slim Helu & family". Forbes. Retrieved March 5, 2013.
  16. "Marin-Guzman, Roberto and Zidane Zeraoui. Arab Immigration in Mexico in the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries: Assimilation and Arab Heritage.(Book Review)". Archived from the original on 12 January 2008.
  17. Theresa Alfaro-Velcamp, "Immigrant positioning in twentieth-century Mexico: middle easterners, foreign citizens, and multiculturalism." Hispanic American Historical Review 86.1 (2006): 61-92.