Welcome
to Hammana,
Many explanations have been given for the origins of "Hammana".
It may have come from the name of a Phoenician God, "Hammon",
or "Hamman", a pillar for the worship of the sun. "Hammon"
and "Hamman" are derived from the root word "Hama"
and it implies heat or the sun.
Hammana was a Druze village until the middle of the 18th Century when
the Christians from North Lebanon began to settle in it. At the
beginning they came as seasonal farmers but later on they settled on
land donated to them by the Mizhir family. The Christians settled around
St. Romanos Church which was the first church constructed in the village
in 1732. The area in which the first settlement took place has been kept
almost intact. Their numbers gradually increased through migration and
high birth rate, until Hammana became a Christian village.
The French
poet Alphonse de Lamartine visited Lebanon in September 1832. To him
Hammana Valley was one of the most beautiful prospects ever
presented to the human eye to scan in the works of God. An area in
Hammana known to the villagers as "Baradish" is derived
from a saying by Lamartine when he described it as "paradis".
The total area of Hammana is 8,850,000.00 square meters.
Hammana is a summer resort due to its temperate climate. It is
1,100-1,250 meters above sea level. It is endowed with fertile land
and an ample supply of water. The main sources of water are the
Shaghour Spring, the Al-Kadaneh Spring, 'Ain al-Hosa Spring, 'Ain
Maytri Spring, 'Ain Sultan Spring and many other small springs with
water debit varying between 20 cubic meters in summer and 50 cubic
meters in winter.
These springs irrigate fertile land where the most famous
agricultural products are cherries, apples and vegetables, the most
famous of which is Hammana beans (al-lubiyeh al-hammaniyeh). The
Hammana beans are a real delicacy of which two varieties are
produced. The "badriyeh" and the white "fasolya".
The original seed of the "badriyeh" was brought into the
country by a French or Italian "padre". It seems that the
land, the weather and the water are just right for the optimum
production of this delicacy. The "badriyeh" is served
mostly boiled and seasoned like a salad. Cooked and prepared by the
women of the village, it is a real treat which is sought after by
the gourmets of the Lebanese society. The price of this "badriyeh"
is often five to six times more expensive than the regular beans,
and as much as tender cuts of meat.
The other specialties of Hammana are cherries and apples. The
cherry trees have been reduced in number as a result of neglect
during the war. There are five kinds of cherries available in
Hammana: Phar'oni, Khamri (dark bine cherries), Qalb al-Tayr,
Italian and Mukahhal. There are three kinds of apple trees: red and
golden, delicious starken and summer apple known as sans pareil.
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Recently,
a group of farmers began a drive to restrict chemical spraying and
chemical fertilizers. A new agricultural industry was created in the
village. One can buy organic agricultural products directly from the
farmers. Moreover, new and unknown vegetables were introduced such as
broccoli, brussels sprouts, head lettuce and asparagus. These can be
bought from the village at affordable prices.
There are six churches and a mosque in Hammana; and there are three
clubs: Shallal Athletic-Literary Club, Tourism Club and Unesco Club.
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