Fairouzeh

Fairouzeh فيروزه
Village
Location in Syria
Coordinates: 34°42′08″N 36°45′32″E{{#coordinates:34|42|08|N|36|45|32|E|type:city(6456)_region:SY |primary |name= }}
Country	Syria
Governorate	Homs
District	Homs
Subdistrict	Homs
Elevation	Template:Infobox settlement/lengthdisp
Population (2004)
• Total	6,456

Fairouzeh (Arabic: فيروزه) is a village near the city of Homs. It is located 3 miles southeast of Homs. Due to urban development in the area, Fairouzeh, like nearby Zaydal is now considered one of Homs' suburbs. In 2004, it had a population of 6,456. Its inhabitants are predominantly ethnic Assyrians.

Etymology

The origin of the name "Fairouzeh" is still debatable. Many believe it originated from the word fayruz, which means "turquoise" in Syriac, a dialect of the Aramaic language that is still used by the people in their church. The turquoise color is a reference to the green color of the surrounding landscape. However, historians believe the name "Fairouzeh" was mentioned in the Old Testament as "Berothah" (Second Book of Samuel, 8:8).

Old Fairouzeh

The majority of the village's inhabitants were farmers. The majority of people owned enough land to grow wheat, barley, lentil, olive trees and wine grapes. Almost every family raised sheep, goats and chickens. The original farmers also owned horses, donkeys and cows. They were self-sufficient of basic food supply throughout the whole year.

The water source was acquired from deep wells about (18 to 20 meters). The two most famous wells (Jub) were Jub Hamza and Jub Jaaber. Without the existence of these two wells, the continuous life in Fayruzah as we know it would have not existed. The structure of Jub Hamza in the middle of the village was preserved as a “monument” for current and future generations. The village now uses city running water and electricity.

The elders in the village were known for their colorful and unique clothes. Most men, women and kids wore similar traditional outfits. The homes were built similar in shape and architectural design. Traditional home walls were built from hardened mud pieces and the roofs from wood and topped with mixed hay and mud. Some of the early big homes had several families living together side by side.

The most known family names in early Fayruzah are: Abdulnour, Abdulhai, Abdel Aziz, Askar, Assaf, Assfour, Attiyah, Ballat, Dabbous, Danial, Deeb, Diab, Darghali, Fdayl, Fleyeh, Ghanem, Grair, Habahab, Habroun, Hannoun, Hamad, Hawara, Helow, Hourany, Howarah, Hushaan, Hussary, Jubi, Joudi, Kassas, Khalil, Maida, Mbarkeh, Maleh, Makhool, Mashour, Mushamel, Nader, Nahim, Nakkoud, Noufal, Nussais, Rahal, Ruboz, Sayegh, Seder, Shahadeh, Shahla, Taweel, Toma, Tissan, Trad, Watfa, Wanis, Younan. In the last 50 years, many more families have moved to Fayruzah from neighboring towns and villages and made it their home.

File:Dair Mar Elias.jpg

St. Elias Syriac Orthodox

Fairouzah’s population comprises about 7,000 people. Based on a current and future civil plan, it will occupy about 425 acres (1.72 km²) of land when it is completed. The village is estimated to have been established around the 16th century. Its first inhabitants were mostly Eastern Orthodox Christians who came from Sadad in the 16th century. They migrated to Fayruzah to be closer to Homs and thus benefit from better living conditions. Most of them were farmers.

Present-day Fairouzeh

In the early 20th-century all children attended elementary school. They were taught religious and general education. The first middle school was built in Fayruzah in 1949 as one of very few middle schools around Homs. Many students from Fayruzah and neighboring villages graduated from this school and continued their higher education in Homs and Damascus.

From the end of World War I until after the 1960s, a large wave of Fayruzah's residents emigrated to South America and to the United States, seeking better living conditions. Currently there exists a large community of Fairouzian people in Los Angeles and smaller ones in Detroit, Jacksonville and Miami.

Bibliography

• Smith, Eli; Robinson, Edward (1841). Biblical Researches in Palestine, Mount Sinai and Arabia Petraea: A Journal of Travels in the Year 1838. 3. Crocker and Brewster. 

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External links

• http://www.dorgalli.com
• http://www.fayrozah-sy.net
• http://www.fairouzah.com
• http://www.fairoza4u.com

Template:Homs Governorate