Kafr Buhum

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Kafr Buhum (Arabic: كفربهم‎, Syriac: ܟܟܦܪ ܒܚܡ, transliteration: Kafar Bouhoum) is a big town located in the middle of Syria in the Middle East and administratively belonging to the Hama Governorate.The town is away from Hama city 9 km and between Damascus (Syrian Capital ) {to 210 km (131 miles)} and Aleppo {to 160 km (100 miles)}.Its {330 meters (1082 ft)}above the sea level. The population of the town is more than 17,379 inhabitants.

1 Geography
2 Etymology
3 History
4 Social relation
5 External links
6 References

[edit] Geography

Town lands tend more towards Asi River (Orontes River) Valley . The town plateau relates with Masyaf plateau at the west, at the north with Muhardeh plateau , the west and north plateaus composed of karst limestone rocks, and the south-west Kafr Buhum plateau related with Harbenevsh basalt plateau .

At the east of town passes an Asi valley. A town geography from the east and south is flatter than the north and west. From the beautiful hills in Kafr Buhum are Tel Veon which is located at the west of the town {2 kilometres(1.25 miles)}, Abi Salloum Plateau from the east and Almkens and Wadi al Khassalate, Kfraldos hills from the south.

Town climate is Mediterranean where winter is cold and rainy and summer is warm and dry. The climate affected by the distance from the sea (Mediterranean) {80 km west(50 miles)} and by the coastal mountains barriers.

[edit] Etymology

Traditional Dress of a Kfarboian Married Woman

All sources indicate that the current name of the town is derived from :

The first part of the name is (Kfar) in the Syriac language means "farm" or "village"

The second part has several possible meanings, including:

A Plural of the word Pehmi that in the Syriac language means "rock".

Buhum In the Syriac language means a strong man.

Kafr Abu in the Syriac language means "large house".

Kafr Ebham: Ebham is Arabic for the word "thumb", this name is coming from a thumb of Saint George, which is existing in the Saint George church in the town.

[edit] History

Housing in the town Likely had started with the movement of people from the its surrounding caves and the traces over there show that. Then people came to the town from different regions.

The town is too ancient and perhaps existed since two thousands years. There is a lot of spiritual, moral important persons emerged in the town history since long time and headed them Gregorios bin Fadil, he is the first Aleppo bishop of the Melkite Greek Church, and he remained at the Episcopal from 1540 to 1582 , with attempts in the Minstrelsy and researches in theology and Proverbs.

This town contains many ancient, historical, and archaeological churches, like Saint George Church that has ancient ]]building]], icons of 18,19 centuries most of its for Hanna Saliba painter, church manuscripts belonging to centuries 17 18 , and some old church silver tools.

As well as Saint Mary Church , which its building date back to more than 2000 years, and it was an Ancient Rome temple before the Diffusiveness of Christianity.

There is also Haunt St. John the Baptist, and Haunt Forty Martyrs of Sebaste that the date of its buildings is unknown yet. There is also St. Elias that is newly about forty a years ago. Town contains many caves and archaeological sites.

There is another opinion about the history of the town that the inhabitants of the town met after they had scattered in the ruins in Kafr buhum then those areas transplanted for the benefit of all the people of the town. Then some people came to assist native people with there Labour, those workers became residents of the town after they were scattered in many debris and villages such as: Kafr aldoss, Kafr Hanin, Elteara, Alamisha, Abo sensal, Abu Aram, Bo sloma, Altailbea, Aladsat, Alashr, Ancka, briRabat, Alskor, Albaka, Kaaba, Abu Hawara, Albahis, Wadi Haddad, Wadi Aljdi, Wadi Aldiab, Vion Syscon, Kafr-trodden, Altawela, Alareda, Alslykha, Almkens.

[edit] Social relation

Inhabitants of the town have worked in Commerce, agricultural and Industry jobs since ancient long time ago, and they like the inheritance Folksong and the Poetics and Prose arts. The town has its own rituals at weddings and patriotic and scriptural feasts.

People housed in clay wonderful houses at the past time, but this dayes they live in stone palaces.

The town annually has many small carnivals ,but the most important and the largest one is Albaaoth Monday (the second Passover (Easter)day ),all the associations of the town participate in this carnival ,that has many shows and more than 400 children Contribute to be special annual carnival .

The town has a little too high percentage of graduates (doctors, engineers, etc) much of these highly qualified people are expatriates (a little everywhere in the world, especially in Europe). In addition to the historical value of the its customs and traditions ,It is especially known for its “white stone careers” of construction and the inhabitants work in the agriculture and in the factories. They have many Lands around the city where they cultivate corn , cotton, white beets, etc there .

We cannot fail to mention the great work being done by the town efforts is the Cathedral of Saint Elias, that is one of the largest churches in the Middle East, and the church is individual effort of the town Inhabitants . when the Cathedral be fully complete it will an important moment and historical monument .