Toula, Zgharta

Toula تولا
City
Toula, Lebanon - December 2005
Toula Location within Lebanon
Coordinates: 34°19′3″N 35°57′49″E / 34.31750°N 35.96361°E / 34.31750; 35.96361
Country	Lebanon
Governorate	North Lebanon
District	Zgharta
Elevation	1,150 m (3,770 ft)
Time zone	UTC+2 (EET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+3 (EEST)
Dialing code	+961

Toula (Arabic: تولا) is a small village in North Lebanon in Zgharta District (or Quadaa). It is 1,150 meters (3,770 feet) above sea level and is primarily a recreational village. Descendants of the original full-time residents of Toula do not reside in Toula during the winter months. Heavy snow fall typically makes Toula's mountainous roads inaccessible. However, Toula's original families used to occupy the village on a year-round basis. Settling families and early residents developed a climatic tolerance and adapted to Toula's harsh winter months.

Toula has an estimated approximate population of 1,000.^{[citation needed]} The last national census was conducted in 1932.

At the beginning of the 20th century, similar to other Lebanese towns and cities, these village residents emigrated to different locations around the world.^{[citation needed]} Significant numbers have emigrated to the United States, Canada, Australia, Argentina and Brazil. A distinctive percentage of current village residents have achieved secondary education and professional school levels. [cite pending] Census reports indicated that a high proportion of these residents hold professional degrees in medicine, law, engineering and education.^{[citation needed]} Additionally, numerous business entrepreneurs are village residents.

Toula's topography has earned the village a country-wide reputation for its productive fertile soil. Fertile soil and climatic conditions together, produce high quality agricultural products. Representative products are tomatoes, cucumbers, apples, pears, apricots, and grapes. Residents also produce an alcoholic beverage made from high grade varieties of grapes and anise. The alcoholic distilled beverage Arak is produced primarily for use by residents. The aniseed-flavored Arak is the national, cultural drink of Lebanon.

The village population consists almost exclusively of Lebanese Maronite Catholics, who staunchly preserve their Maronite heritage founded under St. Charbel of Lebanon.

The patron saint of Toula is known as Saint Assia (مار أسيا) . Toulanians build a church in its honor in the middle of the village.

The village is popular for its Saint Assia annual summer festival, held the last Sunday of September. The Saint Assia summer festival is celebrated with an outdoor party, where Arak, Lebanese cultural dancing, tolling the St. Assia Church bell and cultural cuisine, Hrissi,^{[citation needed]} are a part of the festivities.

• Arbet Kozhaya

• Toula - Aslout, Localiban
• Toula Museum of Australia Inc.
• Toula Blog
• on Zgharta.com
• Photos of Toula
• Ehden Family Tree