Human

Humans are usually olive-skinned, with dark eyes, and thick dark hair. Though there are discrepancies - blue eyes, hazel eyes, lighter coloured hair. They have average height, with wide mouths.

Naming Traditions

Feminine names

Women are sometimes referred to as 'mother-of-name of eldest daughter/child.'

Masculine names

Men are sometimes referred to as 'father-of-name of eldest son/child.'

Family names

People are referred to as 'first name' son of 'father's name,' or 'first name' daughter of 'mother's name.' But it's ibn for son and bint for daughter.

Culture

Culture and cultural heritage

Lebanese-adjacent

Average technological level

They're living in the 1800s mate. Of course they also have magic, but there's no magic in this time.

Common Etiquette rules

Family loyalty is everything. And hospitality is something they value highly. If someone invites you over, you'd better be there. With a gift, too. Food gift, mostly. Sweets. Gifts are given pretty much whenever - if someone is going overseas, if someone returns from overseas (the returner brings gifts back for close family members). They kiss cheeks three times when greeting one another, while shaking their hands. Marhaba is the common greeting. Sometimes Salam. They always inquire after the person's family and their health when meeting. Sometimes women won't want to shake hands; men wait for women to extend their hand first. Elders are always greeted first. Elders are highly revered in this society. Never speak about very serious topics at the dinner table. Nobody is allowed to leave the dinner table until they are filled to the brim. Second and third helpings are always encouraged. They are a friendly people, always giving direct eye contact, and a little touchy-feely too. Pita bread is life. They eat it with everything. Saying inshallah, both sincerely, and sarcastically.

Common Dress code

Long skirts, sharwal, long tunics, mishlah, abaya, thawb, kafiyyeh, tarboush, labbadeh, colourful vests, baggy shirts, qamis.

Common Customs, traditions and rituals

Mezze - tables laden with small plates of various different traditional foods. This is what begins all dinners, and what is always available at restaurants. Depending on the size of the table, and the wealth of the restaurant, diners will be served a mezze even before ordering their actual meals. You'd think the mezze would be enough. It's not. Food is life.

Birth & Baptismal Rites

After a baby is born, there is a lengthy period of visiting time. Family and friends all visit the new mother at her home, showering her with gifts, and advice (unsolicited sometimes). There's lots of mighle pudding made and consumed, in honour of the baby. And lots of prayers that the mother get pregnant again soon to give a brother or sister to the new baby - or to pray for a boy if the new baby is a girl. Sexist bastards. The new parents also must prepare chocolates and small gifts for each visiting family. It's intense. They also name the baby soon as it is born. Pregnancy time is filled with the couple thinking up baby names.

Funerary and Memorial customs

They bury the dead as soon as they are able. The body is washed and cleaned, and shrouded in white. Their is a congregation at a Prayer House where they all pray for the person, and then there is a procession through the streets as they follow the dead to the graveyard, where the close family members lower the deceased into the ground, and each take turns throwing dirt over their shrouded body. Wailing is discouraged. After the burial, there are three days where people visit the family of the deceased, and sit in silence with them, and bring over plates of food for them.

Common Myths and Legends

The Wali - a spirit that lives in graveyards. It'll possess you if you're around its territory at night. People have said they hear moaning at night coming from the graveyards. Some say they've seen it, some claim they've spoken to it, and been spared. Most people are liars. But people still believe it.

Ideals

Beauty Ideals

The most beautiful person would be fair and fat. Because fairness means you never had to work in the fields. And fatness means you're rich enough to afford lots of food. Long hair is also highly admired for females. Men cut their hair short, but grow their beards. The fullness of a man's beard is a reflection of the man that has it.

Gender Ideals

Men are strong, tough, the backbone of a nation. Women are more sensitive, motherly, nurturing, homely. The men go out, work, provide. The women stay in, work, provide. But of course, the world is changing, and some women don't much care for a life in the home.

Courtship Ideals

Courtship is fairly simple here. Boy and a girl like each other, boy and his parents meet girl's parents, they start 'dating' with the permission of their parents, all while planning their engagement and wedding party. Of course some people 'date' without permission. But hey, it's their funeral!

Relationship Ideals

Similar to gender ideals, though every relationship is different. A man provides by working out of the house. A woman provides by working inside the house.