Festivities, Holidays and Traditions in Cairo

Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr

The Ramadan is well known nowadays world wide, is the muslim fasting month, whose dates depend on the lunar calendar. When this fasting finishes there is a 2 or 3 days of holidays is called Eid al-Fitr, with the final celebration called “Iftar”.

Leylet en Nuktah

Even it comes from a sad historical day, when the Egyptians worshiped the Nile river sacrificing beautiful women. Nowadays, local people gather around the river on the 17th of June and they picnic, spending a nice day with family and friends. There are many other traditions linked to this date.

 

Christmas

The Coptic Christmas celebration is on the 7th of January, but a week before it, people start to decorate homes and offices and shops with colourful lights and nice stuff. On the Christmas Eve, people gather and celebrate a traditional dinner with a classic dish of rice with garlic and many times with a soup called “fata”.

 

Moulid an-Nabi

Another Islamic festival which is the celebration of the prophet Mohammed. You’ll find in Cairo many parades in the streets and processions as well, with streets full of dancers, acrobats and music. Families also gather to go out and see all the street fairs and spend the holiday together, most of them selling hummus.

 

Sham al-Naseem

Local people from all religions gather to celebrate this holiday every 21rst of March, with picnics (usually eating fish and beans). It is also a good opportunity to see ans experience the local Egyptian culture.