Children in Egypt receive money on Christmas Eve. However, don't expect Santa Claus here.
Although the majority of the population in Egypt identifies with Islam, many people here also happily celebrate Christmas. More precisely, they enjoy its decorative form in the spirit of American movies and series about Santa Claus. Some parents buy their children Christmas decorations and attend Christmas events. Christmas decor can also be found in large shopping centers throughout the country. Many hotels and restaurants host various themed Christmas events and parties. Christmas in the Christian spirit is celebrated in Egypt by Coptic Christians, who represent about 10% of the minority in the country. They celebrate Christmas on January 7, so this significant day is also a public holiday in Egypt.
Fasting
Egyptian Christmas is associated with a number of traditions that slightly differ from our "western" Christmas.
The biggest difference between Coptic and Western Christmas is the period of fasting. Coptic Christians observe a strict fast from November 25 to January 6, during which they do not consume any animal products. Over the course of 43 days, they give up meat and other food of animal origin, including butter, milk, and eggs.
Only the sick or otherwise weakened believers are exempt from fasting. Most Christian Copts gather as a family for communal celebrations and feasts, which include food and music, after a long fast, but it's not a Christmas celebration as you might experience it in Europe or America.
Church services are one of the most important parts of Christian Christmas in Egypt
While many Christians attend midnight mass on Christmas Eve (December 24), Coptic Christians also participate in a special night service on January 6. This usually starts around 10 pm and lasts until midnight, sometimes until dawn. After the end of the prayers, everyone goes home and prepares their stomach for a rich and tasty feast, which includes all kinds of food that were forbidden during the Advent fast.
All meals contain meat, eggs and butter, in other words all the treats that they had to deny themselves during fasting. One of the popular dishes is fatta, which consists of bread, rice, garlic and boiled lamb.
On Orthodox Christmas Eve (January 7th), people meet at home parties and celebrations. The visitor often brings kahk (a special sweet cookie) as a gift.
Christmas decoration the Egyptian way
Egyptians celebrate Christmas with amazing bright lights and colors that demonstrate their unique culture. A common sight in many Egyptian homes and shops is a Christmas tree, decorated with fairy lights and presented gifts. The holiday has a unique atmosphere that sets it apart from other celebrations. Houses are illuminated with radiant lights and decorations that enhance the festive feeling. In many households, a nativity scene is displayed, depicting the story of Jesus' birth with amazing details. Churches are adorned with beautiful flowers and candles that create a peaceful mood. Streets are full of festive banners and decorations, using typically Egyptian symbols such as palms, pyramids or camels for decoration, giving the holiday a specific local flavor. Christmas in Egypt is also a time when people remember the less fortunate and help those in need. There are many churches and charitable organizations that distribute food and clothing to the poor and homeless.
The spirit of generosity and kindness is ubiquitous in Egyptian society during this period.
Christians and Muslims gather to celebrate together with music and dance. These are celebrations in which Christian traditions mingle with local cultural elements.
Traditional Egyptian food
The Coptic Christmas Eve dinner is basically similar to a Western Christmas Eve dinner, but it also includes some traditional Egyptian dishes. The main dish is usually a Christmas turkey surrounded by a variety of fragrant side dishes. In addition to it, the previously mentioned dish fatta, which contains bread, garlic, rice, and boiled lamb meat, and wara'einab or stuffed vine leaves are served. Although we don't usually associate pasta with Christmas in the West, for Egyptians, the traditional Christmas Eve meal is macarona bechamel. It consists of baked penne pasta with minced meat and bechamel sauce. It is a staple food in almost every Egyptian household. For every Christian in Egypt, Christmas morning usually means a cup of tea with kahk cookies. On this day, many people also give zalabya (doughnuts) and bouri (parma fish) to the poor.
It's not Baby Jesus, but Baba Noel
Even Egyptian Christmas is associated with gift-giving, but in a somewhat different form. Some Christians in Egypt give each other gifts for Christmas, which they place under the Christmas tree.
Children believe that they are brought to them by Baba Noel, also known as Father Christmas. As there are no chimneys in Egypt, Baba comes in through the window and leaves gifts, often in exchange for kahk cookies, which are similar to our gingerbread cookies.
This local version of Santa Claus is very popular in Egypt. It refers to a saint who dedicated his life to helping the poor and especially children. Whether it's Santa Claus or Baba Noel, he is loved by Egyptian children and they eagerly consume stories and films about him every year. His image in the typical red habit can be found everywhere in Egyptian streets.
Coptic Christian families give younger members money instead of gifts on Christmas Eve (January 6). This is a popular tradition that is common on most other Egyptian holidays as well. On the Coptic Christmas holiday (January 7), friends and families gather at home celebrations, where sweet confections are usually given as gifts.
The Christmas tradition of giving gifts to children is inspired by the story of the three kings, wise men who brought gifts to baby Jesus. The wise men, who saw a star in the east and interpreted it as a sign of the birth of a great ruler, followed the star to Bethlehem, where they found the newborn Jesus, born to Mary and Joseph. They presented the boy with three gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. The gift of gold represents Jesus's sovereignty and royal power. Frankincense is used in religious ceremonies and symbolizes Jesus's divinity. Myrrh is associated with death, pain, and the future sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross. The story of the three kings makes the practice of giving gifts to children and loved ones an important part of Christmas traditions.
The Story of the Holy Family
What makes the Christmas time in Egypt even more exceptional is the biblical story of the escape of the Holy Family with the baby Jesus to Egypt shortly after Jesus' birth. The Egyptian Christmas is closely linked to this story.
According to the Christian Bible, King Herod ordered to kill all Bethlehem newborns to prevent the prophecy that one of them would eventually dethrone him. Thus, Joseph and Mary with baby Jesus had to flee to Egypt, where they were to spend 4 years of life. The Coptic tradition connects many locales with their stay in Egypt, from El-Farama in Sinai to Asyut. The passage, which we find in the Christian Bible, is deeply ingrained in the hearts of Egyptian Christians and emphasizes the importance they attach to these holidays.
Christmas celebrations in Egypt also include other activities, which locals and visitors perform to honor the arrival of God's son on earth. One of them is a visit to Mount Sinai, where Moses received the Ten Commandments. This is a significant place for Christianity as well. At the top of the mountain stands a small chapel, where believers go to lay down their prayers.
Christmas is a time of solidarity
Christmas in Egypt is a time of solidarity and cooperation, when Christians and Muslims share the joy of these holidays and at the same time respect each other and their customs. Many stores offer special discounts and gifts on this occasion, and children eagerly anticipate the arrival of Santa Claus, who is a popular symbol of Christmas celebrations in Egypt.
Christmas in Egypt is not just a religious holiday marked by services and prayers, where Christians commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ, but also a cultural and social event. People of many different religions and denominations participate in the celebrations and festivities, demonstrating the religious tolerance of the Egyptians. Everywhere you look, you can see amazing lights of wonderful colors and Christmas trees, which fill you with joy and holiday spirit.
Source: author's text, Vianocnedarceky.sk, Whychristmas.com, Trafalgar.com, Gattours.com, Traveltriangle.com, Tripsinegypt.com
