Lebanese Mexican
Encyclopedia
A Lebanese Mexican is a Mexican
citizen of Lebanese
origin.
Interethnic marriage in the Lebanese community, regardless of religious affiliation, is very high; most community members have only one parent who has Lebanese ethnicity. As a result of this, the Lebanese community in Mexico shows marked language shift
away from Arabic. Only a few speak any Arabic, and such knowledge is often limited to a few basic words. Instead the majority, especially those of younger generations, speak Spanish
as a first language. Today, the most common Lebanese surnames in Mexico include Nader, Hayek, Ali, Haddad, Nasser, Malik, Salazar, Abed, Mansoor, and Harb.
, Puebla
, Mexico City
and the Northern part of the country (mainly in the states of Baja California
, Nuevo Leon
, Sinaloa
, Chihuahua, Coahuila
, and Durango
, as well as the city of Tampico
and Guadalajara
).
During the 1948 Israel-Lebanon war and the Six-Day War
, thousands of Lebanese left Lebanon and went to Mexico, first arriving in Veracruz. Although Lebanese made up less than 5% of the total immigrant population in Mexico during the 1930s, they constituted half of the immigrant economic activity.
Immigration of Lebanese in Mexico has influenced Mexican culture, in particular food, where they have introduced Kibbeh
, Tabbouleh and even created recipes such as Tacos Árabes. By 1765, Dates, which originated in North Africa and the Middle East, were introduced into Mexico by the Spaniards. The fusion between Arab and Mexican food has highly influenced the Yucatecan
cuisine.
Another concentration of Lebanese-Mexicans is in Baja California
facing the US-Mexican border, esp. in cities of Mexicali in the Imperial Valley US/Mexico, and Tijuana across from San Diego
with a large Lebanese American community (about 280,000), some of whose families have relatives in Mexico.
The majority of Lebanese-Mexicans are Christians who belong to the Maronite Church
, Roman Catholic
, Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Rite Catholic Churches
. A scant number are Muslims.
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
citizen of Lebanese
Lebanese people
The Lebanese people are a nation and ethnic group of Levantine people originating in what is today the country of Lebanon, including those who had inhabited Mount Lebanon prior to the creation of the modern Lebanese state....
origin.
Interethnic marriage in the Lebanese community, regardless of religious affiliation, is very high; most community members have only one parent who has Lebanese ethnicity. As a result of this, the Lebanese community in Mexico shows marked language shift
Language shift
Language shift, sometimes referred to as language transfer or language replacement or assimilation, is the progressive process whereby a speech community of a language shifts to speaking another language. The rate of assimilation is the percentage of individuals with a given mother tongue who speak...
away from Arabic. Only a few speak any Arabic, and such knowledge is often limited to a few basic words. Instead the majority, especially those of younger generations, speak Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
as a first language. Today, the most common Lebanese surnames in Mexico include Nader, Hayek, Ali, Haddad, Nasser, Malik, Salazar, Abed, Mansoor, and Harb.
Migration history
Lebanese immigration to Mexico started in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Roughly 100,000 Arabic-speakers settled in Mexico during this time period. They settled in significant numbers in NayaritNayarit
Nayarit officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Nayarit is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 20 municipalities and its capital city is Tepic.It is located in Western Mexico...
, Puebla
Puebla
Puebla officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Puebla is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 217 municipalities and its capital city is Puebla....
, Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
and the Northern part of the country (mainly in the states of Baja California
Baja California
Baja California officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Baja California is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is both the northernmost and westernmost state of Mexico. Before becoming a state in 1953, the area was known as the North...
, Nuevo Leon
Nuevo León
Nuevo León It is located in Northeastern Mexico. It is bordered by the states of Tamaulipas to the north and east, San Luis Potosí to the south, and Coahuila to the west. To the north, Nuevo León has a 15 kilometer stretch of the U.S.-Mexico border adjacent to the U.S...
, Sinaloa
Sinaloa
Sinaloa officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Sinaloa is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 18 municipalities and its capital city is Culiacán Rosales....
, Chihuahua, Coahuila
Coahuila
Coahuila, formally Coahuila de Zaragoza , officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Coahuila de Zaragoza is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico...
, and Durango
Durango
Durango officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Durango is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. The state is located in Northwest Mexico. With a population of 1,632,934, it has Mexico's second-lowest population density, after Baja...
, as well as the city of Tampico
Tampico
Tampico is a city and port in the state of Tamaulipas, in the country of Mexico. It is located in the southeastern part of the state, directly north across the border from Veracruz. Tampico is the third largest city in Tamaulipas, and counts with a population of 309,003. The Metropolitan area of...
and Guadalajara
Guadalajara
Guadalajara may refer to:In Mexico:*Guadalajara, Jalisco, the capital of the state of Jalisco and second largest city in Mexico**Guadalajara Metropolitan Area*University of Guadalajara, a public university in Guadalajara, Jalisco...
).
During the 1948 Israel-Lebanon war and the Six-Day War
Six-Day War
The Six-Day War , also known as the June War, 1967 Arab-Israeli War, or Third Arab-Israeli War, was fought between June 5 and 10, 1967, by Israel and the neighboring states of Egypt , Jordan, and Syria...
, thousands of Lebanese left Lebanon and went to Mexico, first arriving in Veracruz. Although Lebanese made up less than 5% of the total immigrant population in Mexico during the 1930s, they constituted half of the immigrant economic activity.
Immigration of Lebanese in Mexico has influenced Mexican culture, in particular food, where they have introduced Kibbeh
Kibbeh
Kibbeh or kibbe is an Arab dish made of bulgur or rice and chopped meat. The best-known variety is a torpedo-shaped fried croquette stuffed with minced beef or lamb. Other types of kibbeh may be shaped into balls or patties, and baked or cooked in broth.Kibbeh is a popular dish in Levantine...
, Tabbouleh and even created recipes such as Tacos Árabes. By 1765, Dates, which originated in North Africa and the Middle East, were introduced into Mexico by the Spaniards. The fusion between Arab and Mexican food has highly influenced the Yucatecan
Yucatecan
Yucatecan may refer to:*The Mexican state of Yucatán*The Yucatán Peninsula*The Yucatec Maya language and its speakers...
cuisine.
Another concentration of Lebanese-Mexicans is in Baja California
Baja California
Baja California officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Baja California is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is both the northernmost and westernmost state of Mexico. Before becoming a state in 1953, the area was known as the North...
facing the US-Mexican border, esp. in cities of Mexicali in the Imperial Valley US/Mexico, and Tijuana across from San Diego
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
with a large Lebanese American community (about 280,000), some of whose families have relatives in Mexico.
The majority of Lebanese-Mexicans are Christians who belong to the Maronite Church
Maronite Church
The Syriac Maronite Church of Antioch is an Eastern Catholic Church in full communion with the Holy See of Rome . It traces its heritage back to the community founded by Maron, a 4th-century Syriac monk venerated as a saint. The first Maronite Patriarch, John Maron, was elected in the late 7th...
, Roman Catholic
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
, Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Rite Catholic Churches
Eastern Rite Catholic Churches
The Eastern Catholic Churches are autonomous, self-governing particular churches in full communion with the Bishop of Rome, the Pope. Together with the Latin Church, they compose the worldwide Catholic Church...
. A scant number are Muslims.
Notable people
- Carlos Slim, business magnate, richest man in the world
- Alfredo Harp HelúAlfredo Harp HelúAlfredo Harp Helú is a Mexican businessman of Lebanese origin, and as of 2011, with a net worth of $1.0 billion, is according to Forbes the 1140th richest person in the world...
, Mexican businessman - Salma HayekSalma HayekSalma Valgarma Hayek Jiménez de Pinault is a Mexican film actress, director and producer. She received an Oscar nomination for Best Actress for her role as Frida Kahlo in the film Frida.-Early life:...
, actress - Jaime SabinesJaime SabinesJaime Sabines Gutiérrez was a Mexican contemporary poet. Known as “the sniper of Literature” as he formed part of a group that transformed literature into reality, he wrote ten volumes of poetry, and his work has been translated into more than twelve languages...
, poet - Mauricio Féres Yázbek (Garcés)Mauricio GarcésMauricio Féres Yázbek was a Mexican actor.-Personal Life and Career:...
- Alfonso PetersenAlfonso PetersenAlfonso Petersen Farah is an educated medical doctor and politician, who served as Mayor of Guadalajara from 2007 to 2009....
, mayor of GuadalajaraGuadalajaraGuadalajara may refer to:In Mexico:*Guadalajara, Jalisco, the capital of the state of Jalisco and second largest city in Mexico**Guadalajara Metropolitan Area*University of Guadalajara, a public university in Guadalajara, Jalisco... - Emilio HassanEmilio HassanEmilio Hassan Viades Slim is a Mexican professional footballer. He currently plays as a defender for Cruz Azul. He is of Lebanese descent. He made his debut September 4, 1999 against UNAM Pumas...
, footballer, nephew of Carlos Slim - Paul HamPaul HamPaul Ham is an Australian author and the Australia correspondent of the London Sunday Times. He has a masters degree in Economic History from the London School of Economics. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication from Mitchell College of Advanced Education in Bathurst, NSW .He wrote...
, bassist for Anabantha - Ricardo Dájer NahumRicardo Dájer NahumRicardo Dájer Nahum is a Mexican politician of Lebanese origin affiliated to the Institutional Revolutionary Party. He is married to Gabriela Lixa Dáguer. He is the current president of the Lebanese Mexican Enterprise Chamber.He holds a bachelors degree in accountancy from the Autonomous...
, Mexican politician - Jeff Becerra, Heavy metal musician
- CapulinaCapulinaGaspar Henaine Pérez was a Mexican comic actor and singer, who became famous when he partnered with Marco Antonio Campos as the comedy team Viruta y Capulina. Together, they were very successful in film, television and theater. From then on, he was best known as Capulina...
, actor - Isaac Saba RaffoulIsaac Saba RaffoulIsaac Saba Raffoul was a Mexican businessman of Syrian-Lebanese Jewish origin; his father emigrated from Aleppo, Syria to Veracruz, Mexico where he started a rag business and was one of the wealthiest persons in the world according to Forbes Magazine...
, businessman - Mizada Mohamed, Astrologer
- Astrid HadadAstrid HadadAstrid Hadad is a well-known Mexican actress and performance artist. She was born in January 4, 1957, Chetumal, Quintana Roo, Mexico. She attended the National Autonomous University of Mexico, originally planning to major in political science and journalism but then changing to theatre...
, Mexican actress - Miguel SabahMiguel SabahMiguel Sabah Rodríguez is a Mexican footballer. He currently plays for Monarcas Morelia and the Mexican national team. Previously Sabah played with Guadalajara and Cruz Azul. Sabah made his debut in the Invierno 2000 with Guadalajara entering in the 46th minute. Sabah played five years with...
, a Mexican football player currently playing for Monarcas Morelia - Taufic GuarchTaufic GuarchTaufic Eduardo Guarch Rubio is a Mexican footballer of Cuban and Lebanese ancestry who plays for Espanyol B as a Forward.-Estudiantes Tecos:...
, a Mexican footballer who plays for Estudiantes Tecos - Liliana AbudLiliana AbudLiliana Abud is an actress in telenovelas and Mexican cinema. She is also a screenwriter of telenovelas.- Biography :Liliana Abud wa born on July 5. She is married to Alfonso Rendon and has two children, Alfonso and Paula....
, an actress in telenovelas and Mexican cinema - Farah Abud, an actress in telenovelas and Mexican cinema
- José SulaimánJosé SulaimánJosé Sulaimán Chagnón is a Mexican boxing official of Lebanese-descent. He is the president of the World Boxing Council....
, President of the World Boxing Council - Antonio MohamedAntonio MohamedAntonio 'El Turco' Mohamed is a retired Argentine football striker, and soccer manager. He is given the nickname 'El Turco' due to his Syrian and Lebanese ethnicity. In Argentina the Arabs are usually mistakenly called Turks since they came to Argentina with Ottoman documents in the 1900s...
, Argentine-born Mexican soccer player - Samer Haj Omar Wade, football player currently playing for Tiburones Rojos de Veracruz.
- Kamel Nacif BorgeKamel Nacif BorgeKamel Nacif Borge is a Puebla based Mexican businessman, born at Mexico City, of Lebanese descent, known in Mexico as "El Rey de la Mezclilla" . He is one of the richest men in Mexico and one of the biggest and most famous gamblers in the world...
, Mexican businessman - Jesús Murillo KaramJesús Murillo KaramJesús Murillo Karam is a Mexican lawyer and politician affiliated to the Institutional Revolutionary Party . He served as governor of the state of Hidalgo from 1993 to 1998...
, Mexican politician - Susana HarpSusana Harp-Biography:Born in Oaxaca de Juarez, her mother is from Oaxaca and her father Lebanese, from a very small community in Mexico. In her childhood she was a quiet girl, but always showed interest in music as she was influenced by her grandfather Jorge Fernando Iturribarria...
, Singer born a to Mexican father - Emilio Chuayffet, Mexican politician
- Omar FayadOmar FayadOmar Fayad Meneses, born 26 August 1962, is a Mexican politician of Lebanese origin. He is the leader of the Institutional Revolutionary Party in the state of Hidalgo, and is currently serving as municipal president of Pachuca in Hidalgo....
, Mexican politician - Jorge KahwagiJorge KahwagiJorge Antonio Kahwagi Macari is a undefeated Mexican boxer, lawyer, businessman, politician and show business personality.-Early life:...
, Mexican boxer, lawyer, businessman, and politician - Carlos Jiménez MabarakCarlos Jiménez MabarakCarlos Jiménez Mabarak Was a Mexican composer, one of the most prolific Mexican composers of the 20th century....
, Musician - Arturo Elías AyubArturo Elías AyubArturo Elías Ayub is a Mexican businessman, currently Director of Strategic Alliances of Telefonos de Mexico, CEO of the Telmex Foundation and Director of UNO Noticias.- Biography :...
, Mexican businessman - Alfredo Elias AyubAlfredo Elias AyubAlfredo Elías Ayub was the Director General of the Comisión Federal de Electricidad , which is the Mexican state-owned electric monopoly....
, Director General of Federal Electricity CommissionComisión Federal de ElectricidadThe Comisión Federal de Electricidad is the Mexican state-owned electric widely known as CFE. It is the dominant electric company and the second most powerful state-owned company in Mexico after Pemex. The Mexican constitution states that the government is responsible for the control and...
, Arturo Elías Ayub is his youngest brother - Alejandro BichirAlejandro BichirAlejandro Bichir is a Mexican actor of Lebanese descent. He is also a member of the Bichir family.- References :...
, Mexican actor - Odiseo BichirOdiseo BichirOdiseo Bichir is a Hispanic television actor and son of Alejandro and Marisol Bichir.-References:...
, Mexican actor, Son of Alejandro Bichir - Demián BichirDemián BichirDemián Bichir Nájera is a Mexican actor. Both of his parents, Alejandro Bichir and Maricruz Nájera, and brothers Odiseo and Bruno Bichir are actors. He was married to singer Lisset Gutiérrez.-Career:...
, Mexican actor, Son of Alejandro Bichir - Bibelot MansurBibelot MansurBibelot Almendra Mansur Rodríguez is a Mexican actress, born in Orizaba, Veracruz, Mexico. Mansur's father is Lebanese, while her mother is Mexican....
, actress - Armando Ahued, Mexican, Former Responsible of Health Federal Institution at the Federal District of Mexico City
See also
- Lebanese diasporaLebanese diasporaLebanese diaspora refers to Lebanese migrants and their descendants who by choice or coercion emigrated from Lebanon and now reside in other countries....
- Immigration to MexicoImmigration to MexicoImmigration to Mexico. Over the centuries, Mexico has received immigrants from Europe, the Americas, and sometimes Asia, such as other countries in the Americas like the United States, Argentina, Brazil and Canada. Today, millions of their descendants still live in the country and can be found...
- Lebanese ColombianLebanese ColombianLebanese Colombians are Colombians of Lebanese descent. Most of the Lebanese escaped to Colombia because of financial hardships and the repressions of the Ottoman Empire....
- Lebanese BrazilianLebanese BrazilianA Lebanese Brazilian is a Brazilian person of full, partial, or predominantly Lebanese ancestry, or a Lebanese-born person immigrant in Brazil....
- Lebanese ArgentineLebanese ArgentineAn Lebanese Argentine is an Argentine citizen or resident alien whose ancestry traces back to any of various waves of immigrants, largely of Arab cultural and linguistic heritage and/or identity, originating from what is now Lebanon....