BEIRUT - It is finally trendy to be Lebanese in Lebanon. Since the "uprising for independence" was launched a few weeks back, the Lebanese national colours have become the 'in' thing to wear, eat and drink.

Artisans are stitching red and white bags, bakers are making cookies featuring the flag's cedar tree, artists are drawing paintings with national symbols and jewellers are engraving bracelets with patriotic slogans.

When they feel cold, demonstrators and concert-goers wrap the Lebanese flag around their shoulders, particularly on Martyrs' Square which has become the capital's point of convergence.

The square is where massive protests erupted after the burial there of ex-premier Rafiq Hariri whose February 14 assassination awakened national feelings, initially against Syria's military and political domination.

In a country where some used to refuse to salute the flag because it was the symbol of a regime led by Christians and wealthy Muslim allies before the 1975-1990 civil war, the national emblem has finally been adopted by all.

Even the pro-Syrian, pro-Iranian Shiite Muslim fundamentalist Hezbollah staged its first massive demonstration under a sea of Lebanese flags.

"Before the war, I refused to stand at the national anthem and salute the flag every morning in class," said former teacher Rouba Khalil.

"Back then, a large part of the population -- namely many Muslims, leftists and nationalists -- associated the Lebanese flag, the cedar tree and the national anthem with the regime," she explained.

"Now people make the difference between the nation and the regime," said Khalil, proudly sporting stickers of the Lebanese flag on her jacket.

Today, phones ring to the tune of the national anthem, cars roam the streets with Lebanese flags fluttering from their windows and music shops sell compilations of patriotic songs that have accompanied street protests.

Red-hot star Haifa Wehbe deserted the Arab stage for a day to read stories for children as part of national unity actions and famous singers have put aside old feuds to make collective patriotic music videos.

Under layers of gold necklaces, even the most fashion-conscious social butterflies are not afraid to be seen walking the pavements of boutique-lined streets wearing badges calling for "freedom" on their chic jackets.

A downtown cafe advert even attempts to lure clients -- now busy with street protests -- to "demonstrate your love" by buying sandwiches at its outlets in response to opposition calls for an economic revival.

The Lebanese entrepreneurial spirit has prompted jeweller Leon Shirikjian to launch a "nationalistic" collection of silver bracelets engraved with a church, a mosque and the first line of the national anthem: "All for the nation."

Caterer Hala Beydoun is also doing a thriving trade. She has been baking cookies decorated with Lebanese flags, cedar trees and even gingerbread "protestors" with icing sugar messages crying for "freedom, sovereignty and
independence."

Need to flick ash from your cigarette? Buy one of Maryse Mokdessi's handmade porcelain ashtrays reading in large print: "100 percent Lebanese."

At the Bokja shop, which usually creates exclusive furniture made from tapestries from Central Asia, Maria Hibri has sold out an entire collection of sofas made on the spur of the moment with fabrics printed with pictures showing a sea of flag-waving demonstrators on Martyrs' Square.

Suha Thumi's company can hardly meet demand, both in Lebanon and among an emigrant community closely following developments at home, for her T-shirts printed with witty messages about the Lebanese identity.

"One of our best sellers was a T-shirt with a message on the back reading: 'yalla bye,' which protestors wore when Syria announced it was pulling out its forces from Lebanon," she said.

Apart from the Lebanese flag, loyalist and opposition followers agree on one other thing: Roula Bazerji's handmade bracelets which says it all: "Kafa," or enough in Arabic.

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