Tuesday, August 19, 2008

The Teahouse of the August Moon

As I climbed the hill to work this morning, the round August moon was just setting behind the minaret of Beit Tsafafa. With the bright sun on it, the moon was so pale I didn't even try to photograph it.

Instead, I went for documentation of "the teahouse of the August moon."
At every dig it is some kind of ritual first thing in the morning and many times throughout the workday to light the Primus, boil water, and make strong Turkish coffee.
Or sometimes it is sweet sweet tea with leaves of mint or merimiyeh or babonag to give the wonderful aroma and taste.
Each little work group seems to have their own portable "kitchen" set up somewhere on a rock in a corner or a niche.
You are welcome to drink, but bring your own glass.


The Bedouin (like the man on the left) have a nice blessing when they serve you coffee (in what used to be the hospitality tent).
The Arabic means literally "Coffee always," meaning something like May we always drink coffee together [in peace].

More about the Bedouin coffee drinking as a symbol of harmony and trust HERE.

8 comments:

  1. What original traditions. "Coffee Always" to you.
    *hugs*

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  2. Hello Dina.

    It is wonderful to be back to this miraculous journal from the holy land.

    The full moon was beautiful last night over my canadian city, as I sat in an outdoor café with friends just down the street behind the synagogue and adjacent to the small lebanese restaurant that entertained us with its music.The moon was lying low across the cityscape like just another city lamp but glorified.

    Meeting friends for coffee is like a ritual for me.It centers me in life and I count how long I have known friends by the number of coffees we have together. ha ha.

    It is beautiful that you have this coffee or tea drinking ritual of harmonizing souls as you dig into the past.
    You must sometimes feel that you are having coffee or tea with the spirits of the past?

    Thanks for another glorious post.

    Have a beautiful day & good luck with your digging.

    shalom
    &love& light
    ichandrae

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  3. Love the ceremony - absolutely dread the taste (not so much the bitter coffee, but the cardamon).
    But so far I managed to keep face! ;)
    Cheers, Klaus

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  4. I went to read about coffee and the tradition. Very interesting post Dian..

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  5. Fascinating information about the coffee ceremony. Something new I learned today. Thanks.

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  6. Interesting about the Bedouin's coffee customs Dina.

    The full moon was beautiful, the tide was high, and powerful. We had coffee from hotel packages as we camped. I didn't know I was doing an August moon celebration, Next year, I'll know!

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  7. A beautiful way of harmonizing and bridging our humannity and comraderie!

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  8. I could go a Turkish coffee right about now. Even one from a primus stove!

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