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National Egyptian Festivals |
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Egypt Events and Festivals
For more information on specific topics click the links below
JanuaryChristmas
The Coptic Christmas is held on the 7th of January. Lots of colour, dancing and celebrations can be seen throughout the Coptic Quarter of Cairo during December and January while preparing for the celebration.
FebruaryThe Abu Simbel Festival
This festival celebrates one of the most breathtaking sights in the world, the temple of Abu Simbel. The temple is a mixture of human effort and an unexplainable natural phenomenon. It is angled so that the inner chamber lights up for his rise to the throne which took place at the end of February.
Visit this website for photographs and further information about Abu Simbel Temples.
AprilShem al Nessim
This roughly translates as the first day of spring with a direct translation of ‘sniffing the breeze’. It is celebrated the first Monday after Coptic Easter. Picnics and outdoor activities are the common ways of spending this national holiday.
Visit this website for further information about Sham el Nessim (Egypt Spring Festival).
MaySouth Sinai Camel Festival
This celebrates Egypt’s national animal and offers people the chance to watch (and partake) in some camel racing. Visitors tend to change their minds regarding the speed of camels during this festival. The races which take place in the popular tourist resort of Sharm el-Sheikh are often the fastest and bumpiest.
Visit this website for further information about South Sinai Camel Festival.
JuneLeylet en-Nuktah
This literally means ‘that of the drop’ due to the fact that something is supposed to literally ‘drop’ into the Nile causing the water level to rise significantly. In ancient times, girls were often drowned in the river to appease the gods thus causing the river to rise. Obviously today, this does not happen but the legend has been adapted.
Evacuation Day
This celebrated day marks the announcement of the Republic in 1953 and the removal of foreign troops in 1956.
JulyRevolution Day
This celebrates the anniversary of the fall of the Egyptian Royal government as well as the rise of the Republic in 1952.
AugustArt Festival
This festival is said to be the most impressive art festival in the Arab world. The week-long party in Ismailia is a celebration of the colourful folk-art from Asia, Africa and Europe.
OctoberArmed Forces Day
In 1973, the Egyptian forces crossed the Suez Canal during the war with Israel. In 1981, Sadat was assassinated while watching the Armed Forces Day parade. This national holiday both celebrates and commemorates.
Abu Simbel Festival
The famous Abu Simbel temple lights up every October to celebrate Ramses II birthday.
National Holidays
Coptic Christmas Day:7 January
Grand Feast:21 January
Islamic New Year: 10 February
Sinai Liberation Day:25 April
Labour Day:1 May
Sham el-Nassim (Coptic Easter):2 May
Liberation day:18 June
Revolution Day:23 July
Wafa’a el Nil (Flooding of the Nile):15 August
Coptic New Year:11 September
Armed Forces Day:6 October
Suez Victory Day:24 October
Bairam Feast (End of Ramadan):3 November
Victory Day:23 December
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National Egyptian Festivals