Since the beginning of time, the First Human used to hunt wild sheep in order to eat its meat and to wear its skin in winter days; afterwards, men started building barns to raise sheep and then began cultivating pastures. Furthermore, with the development of knitting, the woolen thread was extracted, and it was the beginning of fashion and home furnishing. Later, with the organization and development of human life, the rituals of marriage and wedding seasons started to appear, resulting life necessities and equipment
Moreover, Lebanon's environment suits the life of sheep, as shepherds move between the western and eastern mountain ranges of Lebanon. In spring, they move to the eastern range in search of pastures, warmth and water, and then in the early winter, they head to the western range to keep the sheep in the barns and protect them from harsh cold, rain and snow
Shepherds live off their flocks, sell the milk and new males of the flock in the markets for their meat and keep the females for the following year. They shave the wool of the flock in mid-May or when the warmth begins. In the past, this process took place in ceremonial rites that ended with a dance party, dabkeh, and a lunch rich with barbecue meat and yogurt
At first, Wool was sold in the Lebanese market and used as a raw material for quilting mattresses for sleeping and felt for floors, as well as for the carpet industry that used to generate money for the shepherds, and secured job opportunities for many girls and boys in workshops, in addition to handmade rugs in several regions, but now this industry has become old-fashioned, and remained only in the two towns of Bekaa, Fakiha and Arsal. Nowadays, habits have and lifestyle has changed
Production has taken place in a fast and large way, so sheep’s wool has been replaced by industrial wool known as Dacron, which contains polyester materials. Consequently, the shepherds lost the income resulting from the sale of wool until the wool became a burden to them. Today, they throw the wool into the barrens and agricultural lands or collect it to burn it. One of the shepherds says: “When I burn wool, I feel sad. Wool had glory days, but no one is buying it anymore”