# Ghbaleh

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{{Infobox settlement
| name                    = Ghbaleh
| native_name             = غبالة
| settlement_type         = Municipality
| mapsize                = 
| map_caption            = 
| image_map1             = 
| mapsize1               = 
| map_caption1           = 
| pushpin_map            = Lebanon <!-- the name of a location map as per http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Location_map -->
| pushpin_label_position =  bottom
| pushpin_mapsize        =
| pushpin_map_caption    =  Location in Lebanon
| subdivision_type        = Country
| subdivision_name        = {{flagcountry|Lebanon}}
| subdivision_type1       = [Governorate](/source/Governorates_of_Lebanon)
| subdivision_name1       =  [Keserwan-Jbeil](/source/Keserwan-Jbeil_Governorate)
| subdivision_type2       = [District](/source/Districts_of_Lebanon)
| subdivision_name2       = [Keserwan](/source/Keserwan_District)
| established_title       = <!-- Founded -->
| established_date        = 
| founder                 = 
| leader_party            = 
| leader_title            = 
| leader_name             = 
| area_footnotes          = 
| area_total_km2          = 2.71
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| coordinates             = {{coord|34|3|17|N|35|43|20|E|type:city|display=inline,title}}
| elevation_footnotes     = 
| elevation_m             = 
| elevation_min_m         = 700
| elevation_max_m         = 1100
| population_footnotes    = 
| population_total        = 
| population_as_of        = 
| population_density_km2  = auto
| population_note         = 
| timezone1               = [EET](/source/Eastern_European_Time)
| utc_offset1             = +2
| timezone1_DST           = [EEST](/source/Eastern_European_Summer_Time)
| utc_offset1_DST         = +3
| postal_code_type        = Postal code
| postal_code             = 
| area_code_type          = [Dialing code](/source/Telephone_numbers_in_Lebanon)
| area_code               = +961
| website                 = 
| footnotes               = 
}}
'''Ghbaleh''' ({{langx|apc|غبالة|Ghbaleh}}, also spelled ''Ghebaleh'') is a village and municipality in the [Keserwan District](/source/Keserwan_District) of the  [Keserwan-Jbeil Governorate](/source/Keserwan-Jbeil_Governorate) in central [Lebanon](/source/Lebanon). It is located 42 kilometers northeast of [Beirut](/source/Beirut). Its average elevation is 890 meters above sea level and its total land area consists of 271 [hectare](/source/hectare)s.<ref>{{cite web|title=Ghbaleh|url=http://www.localiban.org/article4461.html|website=Localiban|publisher=Localiban|accessdate=2016-03-29|date=2008-01-19}}</ref> The village is bordered by the villages of [Ghineh](/source/Ghineh), Jouret El Termos, [Azra](/source/Azra_wa_el-Azr), [Jouret Bedran](/source/Jouret_Bedran) and Nahr El Dahab. 
<br>

==History==
Historically, it is believed that [Phoenicians](/source/Phoenicians) inhabited the region since remains are found in nearby [Ghineh](/source/Ghineh), where historians believe is the resting place of the historical figure [Adonis](/source/Adonis). The region was later occupied by Maronite communities who experienced a degree of independence during the rule of the Crusaders, and this, until its destruction at the hands of the [Mamluks](/source/Mamluks) in 1307. The region was abandoned for the next three centuries until Christian families arrived somewhere during the 17th century. Until 1863, Ghbaleh was considered the capital of the [Ftouh Keserwan](/source/Kisrawan) region and encompassed all neighbouring villages under the name "Ghbaleh and its farms".

==Families==
Ghbaleh's main families are Khairallah, Bou Assaf, Lteif, Ephram, Boustany, Zouain, Al Hossry, Bassil, Haddad, Tayeh, Fahed, Assaf, Awad, Atallah, Said, [Ghanem](/source/Ghanem), Khoury, Korkmaz, Karam, Beaino, Chelela, Hallany, Dahdah, Abi Khalil, Chamy, Ziade, Abi Zeid, Saade, Fikany, Khouwairy, Najmeh and Khalil.

The Ghanem family is descended from Moussa Ghanem Al-Ghassani, a descendant of the [Ghassanids](/source/Ghassanids), who were a [Christian](/source/Christian) [dynasty](/source/dynasty) in the [Levant](/source/Levant) under the aegis of the [Byzantine Empire](/source/Byzantine_Empire). Moussa came to [Yanouh](/source/Yanouh%2C_Byblos) in the 9th century and settled there. Later, in 1121, some of his descendants moved to [Lehfed](/source/Lehfed). Finally, Sarkis Ghanem moved from Lehfed to [Ftouh Keserwan](/source/Kisrawan) during the 17th century and settled there.

==Feasts and festivals==
On September 13 of each year, Ghbaleh hosts the "Eid Al Saleeb" festival ([Feast of the Cross](/source/Feast_of_the_Cross)), which includes a carnival, as well as musical and religious events. Attendees come from all over Lebanon, in addition to locals living abroad.{{citation needed|date=March 2016}}

==Administration and demography==
Ghbaleh has a population of about 3500 inhabitants. These included 1,452 registered voters in 2010.<ref name="Ikhtariyah">{{cite web |title=Elections municipales et ikhtiariah au Mont-Liban |url=http://www.localiban.org/IMG/pdf/Elections_municipales_libanaises_2010_-_Mont-Liban.pdf |website=Localiban |publisher=Localiban |accessdate=2016-02-12 |page=19 |format=pdf |date=2010 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150724081015/http://www.localiban.org/IMG/pdf/Elections_municipales_libanaises_2010_-_Mont-Liban.pdf |archivedate=2015-07-24}}</ref> Its inhabitants are predominantly [Maronite Christian](/source/Maronites)s.<ref>{{cite web |title=Elections municipales et ikhtiariah au Mont-Liban |url=http://www.localiban.org/IMG/pdf/Elections_municipales_libanaises_2010_-_Mont-Liban.pdf |website=Localiban |publisher=Localiban |accessdate=2016-02-12 |page=19 |format=pdf |date=2010 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150724081015/http://www.localiban.org/IMG/pdf/Elections_municipales_libanaises_2010_-_Mont-Liban.pdf |archivedate=2015-07-24 }}</ref> Joseph Bou Assaf is the mayor of Ghbaleh since 1998.
<br>

==Places of worship==
Ghbaleh's 17th-century [Saints Sergius and Bacchus](/source/Saints_Sergius_and_Bacchus) Church is one of the oldest religious monuments in the region, in addition to the [Saint George](/source/Saint_George) Church at Hakl al Rayes, the Saint Challita Church, the [Saint Anthony](/source/Anthony_of_Padua) Church, the Saint Nohra Church, the Church of Our Lady of Shekiff and the Immaculate Conception Church. 

==Etymology==
Ghbaleh name is derived from [Syriac](/source/Syriac_language) and means the mount of mud, referencing the mud used there in the pottery industry.{{citation needed|date=March 2016}}.

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Keserwan District}}

Category:Populated places in Keserwan District
Category:Maronite Christian communities in Lebanon

{{lebanon-geo-stub}}

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Ghbaleh](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghbaleh) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghbaleh?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.