Lebanese Mexicans

Lebanese Mexicans
*libano-mexicano*
مكسيكي لبناني
	A hybrid of the Mexican and Lebanese flags.
Total population
	Lebanon-born residents: 991 (2017).; Mexicans of Lebanese descent: c. 100,000 - 400,000 (2015).; c. 100,000 - 600,000 (2014).; c. 400,000 - 2,000,000 (2018).;
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.

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.^[5]

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,^[6] is an example of Lebanese Mexican success in Mexican society.

Migration history

Lebanese immigration to Mexico started in the 19th and early 20th centuries.

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.

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 US–Mexican border, especially in the cities of

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.^[8]

Lebanese culture in Mexico

San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí

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

Yucatecan

cuisine.

Religion

The majority of Lebanese-Mexicans are

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

Torreon

, in Coahuila, and named Suraya.