Egypt overseas
| HOLIDAYS 2018 /1428 Higry National 1-3 January Eid El Adha 7 January Coptic Christmas 20 January Islamic New Year 29 January Ashoorah Day 21 March Family's Day (Mother's Day ) Egypt Motherday ا 31 March Prophet Muhammad's Birthday (PBUH) 25 April Sinai Liberation Day 29 April Coptic Easter 30 April Sham El Nesseem 1 May Labor Day 18 June Evacuation Day(Eid El Galaa) 23 July Revolution Day (EL SAWRA) 13 September Ramadan 6 October Armed Forces Day 13 October Eid El Fitr 24 October Suez & National Liberation Day 19 December Day of Arafat 20- 23 December Eid El Adha 23 December Victory Day International 1 January New Year's Day 15 January Martin Luther King Day 14 February Valentine's Day 19 February President's Day 17 March St Patrick's Day 6 April Good Friday 8 April Easter 13 May Mother's Day 30 May Memorial Day 17 June Father's Day 4 July Independence Day(USA) 3 September Labor Day(USA) 7 November Election Day(USA) 22 November Thanksgiving Day(USA) 24 December Christmas 31 December New Year's Eve Coptic Christmas is celebrated on the 6 and 7th of January. On the night of the 6, the Coptic Christians go to the church around 10 o'clock for the holy mess and at midnight they eat dinner which includes a turkey. On the morning of the 7th gifts are exchanged and then the young children visit their grandparents and have the Christmas lunch at their place. Day of Arafat is the 9th day of Dhul-Hijjah (the Month of Hajj) is called the Day of Arafat. This day is the culminating event of the annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia. The Day of Arafat falls on the 2nd day of pilgrimage rituals. At dawn of this day, nearly 2 million Muslim pilgrims will make their way from Mecca to a nearby hillside and plain called Mount Arafat and the Plain of Arafat. It was from this site that the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, gave his famous Farewell Sermon in his final year of life. During the entire day, from dawn until sunset, Muslim pilgrims stand in earnest supplication and devotion, praying for God's abundant forgiveness. Tears are shed readily as those who gather make repentance and seek God's mercy, recite words of prayer and remembrance, and gather together as equals before their Lord. Muslims around the world who are not participating in the pilgrimage often spend this day in fasting and devotion. Eid-al-Adha is the second important holiday which celebrates the Prophet Abraham's willingness to offer his son for sacrifice.It is a four days holiday, on the first day at dawn all men, (and women if they want to), go to the mosque to pray. . It is at this time that Muslims will have a sheep or goat slaughtered to feed the poor and needy.Every family slaughter a sheep, which they have already bought, and take some of its meat and donate the majority of the meat to the poor. Then they have a late breakfast which includes "Fata". "Fata" is formed of meat, bread, rice and vinegar. Then the young families visit the grandparents and relatives then they all gather at the eldest of the family and have lunch. Muharram (Islamic New Year) marks the Muslim New Year. The Islamic calendar is based on the phases of the moon and has 354 days. Mulid El Naby (Prophet Muhammad's Birthday (PBUH))is an Islamic holiday which is celebrated according to the Islamic lunar calendar. Mulid El Nabawy means the birthday of the prophet. It is celebrated by making special candies and selling them in the streets and at candies stores. The candies are pink and are usually under the shape of a horse or a doll. People wear their best clothes and families get together to celebrate this day. Decorations are found on the streets and on buildings. Mulid El Nabawy is the equivalent of Christmas Sham El Nesseem which comes immediately after Easter; so, it always occurs on Monday. Egyptians have been celebrating Sham El-Nessim (or Spring Day) for more than 4500 years. It is called Sham El-Nessim because the harvest season in ancient Egypt was called "Shamo". In Arabic, Sham means smell and El-Nessim means air. In ancient Egypt, Egyptians used to offer salted fish, lettuce and onion to Egyptian deities in this festivity. The same kinds of food are still eaten in Egypt on this day, as a tradition giving the day a special taste. Lettuce represents the feeling of hopefulness at the beginning of spring. As for eggs, they symbolize the renewal of life in this season. Many people dye eggs in delightful colors. It is believed that ancient Egyptians were the first to practice this habit. Salted fishes are also eaten on this day because they symbolize fertility and welfare. Revolution Day is July 23, Egypt's National Holiday. It celebrates revolution which occurred in 1952. Ramadan is the ninth month of the Muslim calendar. It is during this month that Muslims observe the Fast of Ramadan. Lasting for the entire month, Muslims fast during the daylight hours and in the evening eat small meals and visit with friends and family. It is a time of worship and contemplation. A time to strengthen family and community ties. Armed Forces Day is on October 6. It is the celebration of the Egyptian army's crossing into Sinai in 1973. Eid El Fitr which comes after Ramadan.. People eat special cookies. This holiday is for the Muslim Egyptians. It is a three days holiday, on the first day at dawn all men, (and women if they want to), go to the mosque to pray. And usually you are invited to lunch at uncles, aunts, or friends. Most of Egyptian labors and workers, and employments in al the official government departments , stopped work in the last ten days in Ramadan , also the first ten days after Ramadan month so that the total and real day all the worker stopped from work is 20 days start from 13-10-2006 to 24-10-2006 this period every economic activities stopped or became very slowly ....... |