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| NATIONAL HOLIDAYS - Government and public offices close |
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| January 7 - Egyptian Christmas |
According to the oriental Coptic Orthodox Church (Old calendarist), the Christmas season is a time for fasting and vegetarianism for the community. No meat or milk is consumed from November 25th to the night of January 6th. During this time, however, churches and homes are festooned with lights, Christmas trees and manger scenes. Christmas Day marks the end of fasting. Celebrations are held in churches and the church bells ring. It is common for celebrations to take place on the Nile, where family and friends gather for picnics.
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| April 25 - Sinai Liberation Day |
| Celebration of the withdrawal of Israeli troops from the Sinai peninsula |
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| May 1 - Labor Day |
| Labor Day |
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| July 23 - Revolution Day |
| Celebration of the 1952 Revolution |
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| October 6 - Armed Forces Day |
| Celebrates the Egyptian crossing of the Suez Canal during the 6th of October War |
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| Sham El Nessim (Spring festival) |
| First Monday following the Coptic Easter. |
| Millions of Egyptians set out in the early morning of Sham el Nessim, and crowd the open grassy patches of small parks along the Nile and next to roads on the outskirts of the city. Families prepare their picnics at dawn or the night before, then head off with blankets in tow to enjoy spring breeze in the fresh outdoors. |
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| Moulid an-Nabi (Prophet Mohammed's Birthday) |
| Annually on 3rd month of the Islamic calendar. |
| Moulid an-Nabi celebrates the Prophet Mohammed's birthday, and each year in Egypt the population comes out for parades and to decorate the city streets with lights. There is drumming in the alleys and special sweets are prepared for the children. Halawet el-Moulid (a sweet), and Aroussa al Moulid (candy doll) are among the two traditional sweets favored on this day. For Egyptians, Moulid an-Nabi is joyous time shared between family and friends. |
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| Ramadan and Eid Feast |
| Annually in the 9th month of the Islamic calendar. |
| For Egypt's 90% Muslim population, Ramadan is the most important religious occasion of the year. The celebration honors the revelation of the Qu’ran to the prophet Mohammed. Muslims fast for the entire month by abstaining from food and drink from sunrise until sunset. Small children, pregnant and nursing women, the elderly and the sick are not expected to fast, but those who do not fast, do so discreetly. Contrary to what it might sound like to outsiders, Ramadan is always a time of joy and celebration. The fast is broken each night with the Iftar, a meal taken with family and friends who go out of their way to share meals and visit each others homes. Music and entertainment is enjoye, mosques and streets are lit with colored lights, and when Eid-al-Fitr finally arrives, large feasts are prepared to mark a happy end to a happy month. |
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| Solstice at Abu Simbel |
| February 22 and October 22. |
Twice a year, at Abu Simbel, the rising sun illuminates the inner sanctum of the temple of Ramses II. That's because the ancient Pharaoh had the temple built to align with the sun's rays on February 22 and October 22 - marking the anniversary of his ascension to the throne and his birthday. To witness the fascinating living phenomena that history left behind, crowds arrive at the temple each year before sunrise to watch the shafts of light slowly move toward the statues of Ramses, Ra and Amun. |
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| Wafaa El Nil Festival (Flooding of the Nile) |
| 2 weeks long celebration annually beginning August 15. |
| Wafaa El-Nil is a public holiday also celebrated in the Coptic Church as Esba al-shahid (the martyr's finger). Each year, officials of the Coptic Church ceremonially throw a martyr's relic into the river. |
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| Egypt Yoga Festival - Taba |
| website: Yoga Fest |
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| Cairo Dance Festival |
| website: Oriental Dance Fest |
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| Cairo International Film Festival |
| website: Cairo Film Fest |
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| Mediterranean Travel, Take an Adventure Tour to Egypt, Live Like a Pharaoh for a Week in Egypt, Be the Guest of Pharaohs on an Egyptian Holiday, Become Inspired by the Art and Culture of Egypt, Travel the Mediterranean and Be Inspired, Take an Travel Art Tour of the Mediterranean and Bring Inpiration Back Home, Cruise the Nile for Home Accessories & Art Treasures, Mediterranean Travel Tours, Travel Luxor, Aswan, Cairo, Alexandria, Edfu, Abu Simbel, Abydos, Al-Fayyum, Sharm El-Sheikh, Karnak, Dendara, Hurghada |