In Lebanon, Marian solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord has been recognized a national holiday since 2010. Even today, in various Lebanese churches and sanctuaries, Christians and Muslims together experienced acts of veneration for the Virgin Maria.

About 1,600 boys and girls from over 40 countries have taken part in the World Ecumenical Youth Meeting, which took place in Beirut March 25.

The ecumenical meeting is organized and sponsored by the Churches of Lebanon, the Council of Middle Eastern Churches and the Community of Taizé. Most of the participants are young Christians belonging to the different communities scattered in the Countries of the Middle East.

On March 25, on the occasion of the Feast of the Annunciation, young Christians have been joined by Muslim boys and girls to participate together in the celebrations in honor of the Virgin Mary.

In Lebanon, since 2010, the Marian solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord was proclaimed a national holiday, with the declared intention of finding in the devotion to Mary-- shared also among Muslims--a point of convergence between the different religious communities. Each year, on the occasion of this festival, celebrations are held in various parts of the country, especially in Marian shrines--such as that of Notre Dame de Nourieh and that of Notre Dame de Jamhour--by Islamic-Christian dialogue organizations, starting with the Ensemble Autour de Marie group, that also take care of moments of reflection accompanied by songs in Arabic, Latin and Aramaic.

The choice of the date to celebrate Mary by Christians and Muslims fell on the feast of the Annunciation. The Annunciation of the Angel to Mary is narrated both in the Gospel and in the Koran. Mary is the only woman mentioned by name in the Koran 34 times.

The first Islamic-Christian celebration of the Feast of the Annunciation was hosted in the Lebanese sanctuary of Our Lady of Jamhour in 2007. The political leaders were impressed by the initiative, and in 2010 Prime Minister Saad Hariri, who is also now at the head of the government, proclaimed March 25 a national holiday, the day on which the Annunciation is celebrated.

From Lebanon, the custom of Christians and Muslims to celebrate together the feast of the Annunciation is spreading in other countries: Canada, France, Brazil, Spain. Also in Jordan March 25 could soon become a national holiday. While courses are held at the University of Saint Joseph and doctorate theses are dedicated to Mary in Christianity and Islam.