Close Menu
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
    Monday, July 14, 2025
    961
    Instagram Facebook LinkedIn TikTok
    • Breaking News
    • Guides
    • Food & Drink
    • Listicles
    • Join the Team
    • Whatsapp
      • 961
      • 961 News
    Advertise with Us Get the App
    961
    Home»Magazine»Listicles
    henrialiahmad | lebanese.armyy
    4 Mins Read

    17 Things That Are Normal In Lebanon But Weird Everywhere Else

    By Souad LazkaniMarch 5, 2021Updated:March 5, 2021
    Facebook WhatsApp Copy Link

    We always knew Lebanon was unique but when you stop to think about it, you realize we’re quite “special.”

    There are many things that we think are normal in Lebanon but the moment we leave, we realize it definitely wasn’t. Some of the ideas in this article were crowdsourced from our Instagram followers – be sure to follow us there.

    #1 Greeting people with 3 kisses

    While some countries greet with one or two kisses on the cheek, or none at all, Lebanese go for three!

    #2 Taxis beeping for passengers

    View this post on Instagram

    A post shared by Glocal Citizen (@glocal_citizen)

    If you live in New York, you know how it goes. You run after the taxis for them to stop for you. If you step out of the airport in Montreal or Toronto, for instance, you know the drill. You have to wait for your turn. In Lebanon, taxis run after you!

    #3 Casually running red lights

    Somehow, many in Lebanon become temporarily color blind when it comes to the red traffic light.

    #4 Driving without seatbelts

    There are still some who don’t know what seatbelts are for….even if they have been driving for ages.

    #5 Daily electricity cuts

    View this post on Instagram

    A post shared by @lebanese.highway.to.hell

    Let’s not get started on the cables…

    #6 Paying 2 bills for electricity

    View this post on Instagram

    A post shared by Henrietta Ali Ahmad (@henrialiahmad)

    It doesn’t mean you get double-service, or twice the amount of electricity. That just means that, with or without electricity, you still have to pay two bills: One for state-run (that doesn’t run) electricity and another for the backup generator.

    #7 Canned corn on pizza

    View this post on Instagram

    A post shared by Tomatomatic Pizza (@tomatomatic)

    #8 Extra toum (garlic)

    View this post on Instagram

    A post shared by Peter Wen Maken #FromHome (@peterwenmaken)

    What to say? We do love toum and toum and more toum. Plus, it helps lower the blood pressure and, with all the continuous frustrations we deal with in the country, we do need as much toum as we can get.

    #9 Saying “sorry” when you want to order something at a restaurant

    Yep, we don’t like to bother the waiters…

    #10 Saying stuff like “to2borne” (bury me) fondly

    View this post on Instagram

    A post shared by lore (@my.fashionn.page)

    Weird and macabre endearment, we admit. Lebanese sayings and expressions are quite something.

    #11 Living with your parents after 18

    It would be actually weird in our culture that children leave the family home once they are 18 or past that age if it is not to build their own families, aka, getting married. Some youth do move to dorms for university or find housing in a different city to be closer to work. Eventually, many end up leaving the country.

    #12 Shisha (argileh) accessible everywhere

    View this post on Instagram

    A post shared by Hookah buzz Lb. (@hookahbuzzlebanon)

    Shisha, or argileh, as it is commonly called in Lebanon, is accessible nearly everywhere. You can even get it delivered to your house and some people even found a way to smoke shisha in their cars! Weird, we know.

    #13 Seeing army vehicles and soldiers in the streets

    View this post on Instagram

    A post shared by شرف تضحية وفاء (@lebanese.armyy)

    Yes, in fact, it is normal to see soldiers, army trucks, and even tanks in the streets of Lebanon. In fact, there are still checkpoints that you have to pass across the country.

    #14 Train station employees still getting paid even though it’s not functional

    View this post on Instagram

    A post shared by George Melhem (@george_melhem)

    And it has been the case for decades. Even the German embassy took a jab at Lebanon’s government for doing this. (1`6 billion LBP in Lebanon’s 2020 budget law). You got to say, no foreign country’s misgovernance of funds can compete with ours.

    #15 Untouchable politicians

    View this post on Instagram

    A post shared by Bernard Hage (@the.art.of.boo)

    The Rule of Law, that’s on paper. Officials in Lebanon, whether in office or were once upon a time, are untouchable by the law.

    You can’t even get them to sit for questioning even if it will lead to important evidence related to the most horrific crime committed on Lebanon’s soil. They could even get to remove the investigating judge when the investigation is not going in the direction that suits them.

    #16 Corruption as a status quo

    View this post on Instagram

    A post shared by Hamdan Zeid (@zeidhamdan)

    Well. By now, this one comes as no surprise.

    #17 Literally everything illegal

    View this post on Instagram

    A post shared by Voices of the Thawra (@thawra_voices)

    Someone else just summed it up with that.

    Share. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit Email

    For You

    Lebanese talking-stage

    15 Things Your Lebanese Talking-Stage Will Tell You, And What It Actually Means

    Help Lebanon

    Not Sure How to Help Lebanon? Start Here!

    Lebanese

    5 Good News So Far That’ll Make You Optimistic About Lebanon

    Dating

    12 Things You Need To Know About Dating In Lebanon

    Lebanese women

    8 Things Lebanese Women Will Almost Immediately Notice About You

    Lebanese expats

    Lebanese Expats Are Sharing Stuff They Can’t Find Abroad, And I Honestly Can’t Imagine Living Without Them

    shark tank Lebanon

    Shark Tank Is Officially Coming To Lebanon – Here’s How You Can Get A Chance To Pitch Your Idea

    lebanon jounieh cyprus by ferry 961

    You’ll Soon Be Able To Travel Between Lebanon & Cyprus By Ferry

    June 8, 2025

    20 Celebrities You Probably Didn’t Know Had Lebanese Roots

    April 22, 2019

    Lebanon’s Shawarma Is Going Viral in The Philippines

    April 21, 2019
    Lebanese boutiques

    25 Boutiques In Lebanon To Find Your Dream Evening Dress This Wedding Season

    June 9, 2024

    20 Typical Lebanese Slang Expressions

    April 21, 2020
    caracalla one thousand and one nights

    Caracalla Just Added More Dates For “One Thousand and One Nights” & You Def Don’t Want To Miss It!

    July 5, 2025
    whish pay lebanon 961

    You Can Now Use Whish Pay At Shopify Stores

    June 13, 2025
    lebanese beer brands almaza beirut beer 961

    Lebanese Beer Brands Are Publicly Throwing Shade, And It’s Getting Frothy

    June 7, 2025

    How Mia Khalifa Became One Of The Most Outspoken Advocates For Lebanon

    August 13, 2020
    961 Logo
    Facebook WhatsApp TikTok Instagram

    Popular Topics

    • Guides
    • Eat & Drink
    • Listicles
    • Lebanon News
    • Diaspora
    • Explained

    961

    • About
    • WhatsApp Channel
    • News WhatsApp Channel
    • Corrections Policy
    • Ownership & Funding

    Services

    • Advertise
    • Careers
    • App Waitlist
    • Contact Us
    • Newsletter
    961™ | All Rights Reserved ©2025
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

    We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.