Every one of us has in its family or street, a woman who I like to call a "Tante". Although stereotyping people can be unfair, but Lebanese “Tantes”, with all due respect to the individuality of each one of them, have some striking similarities which I'll try to cite.



1- Once she enters a room, a “Tante” is always the center of attention:
“saba7o, yih yih, chou 3emle b7alik? Walaw ya tante, chou sayer 3layke?”

2- She has an answer to every question you can imagine, because she is an expert in all subjects: cooking, fashion and politics:
“la2 ya tante, l mloukhiye ma byeghlouwa hal2ad; hayda l fostan ktir 3al mouda l sene; l wade3 bel balad mano mni7…”

3- She is the toughest defender of all the traditions of the society:
“3eb, ma bisir ma te3zom eben 3am baya 3al 3eres, hayed mech 3aweyedna…”


4- She assists in all the social gatherings (sob7iyet) of the region: breakfasts, brunches, lunches, dinners,etc... and she knows everyone in the neighborhood as well as all the gossips: who died, who got married, and who got a divorce… 
Recently, she started using Facebook and Whatsapp to stay up to date and connected to the "Tantes" communities. 


5- She always asks you why you are not married yet : "aymata badna nefra7 fike ya tante, ma lezem tkoune ni2a w metalbe"; and she is always willing to introduce you to a decent man which she happens to know: “3ende 3aris la2ta, chab edame w met3allem w 3endo bet…”






6- Her kids are the best children ever:
"Foufi yo2borne byetla3 l awal bi safo, smalla chou zake, khewton lal asetze; Mimo ya 3ayne 3laya, betjanen, chatra w zakiye w bta3ref kel chi..."

Bottom of the line, if you failed to imagine what a Lebanese “Tante” looks like, just think of Fadia Al Chereka and you’ll surely be inspired.
If there is an important criteria that I forgot to mention, be kind to share it with us.
                                                                                Abir Lebbos