What Holidays does Egypt Celebrate?

If you are wondering, what holidays does Egypt celebrate, then you have come to the right place to get all the information you need. In the post that follows, all of Egypt’s various national holidays, including Christian holidays, Islamic holidays and regular secular public holidays.

Coptic Christmas 7th and 8th of January

What holidays does Egypt celebrate in January? Egypt is home to roughly 10 million Christians, most of who belong to the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria. Coptic Christians celebrate Coptic Christmas on the 7th and 8th of January. Other Orthodox Christians in the country celebrate Christmas on the 25th of December, as is common in most western countries that adhere to the Gregorian calendar. By contrast, the holiday dates for Coptic Christmas are based on the older Julian calendar.

One of the biggest differences between the different Christmases, is the fact that only the Coptic Christmas dates are public holidays. Another big difference is the fact that Coptic Christians take part in what is known as the “Holy Nativity Fast” which lasts from the 25th of November to the 6th of January. During this period, Coptic Christians are required to abstain from eating any meat or any animal other based products, including things like eggs and dairy. If you are in Egypt when Coptic Christmas is celebrated, you can expect a seriously entertaining travel experience.

January 25th Revolution Day

As strange as it may seem for a lot of people, Egypt actually has two Revolution Days each year. The first one occurs on the 25th of January, which coincidentally, is also National Police Day. The January 25th Revolution Day commemorates the beginning of the 2011 Egyptian Revolution that led to the resignation of the Egyptian president, General Mubarak.

Sinai Liberation Day

What holidays does Egypt celebrate in April? Sinai Liberation Day is an official holiday that is celebrated on the 25th of April each year to commemorate the liberation of the Sinai Peninsula following the complete withdrawal of all Israeli forces. Celebrations typically include popular public meetings, lectures, seminars, and various artistic performances.

These celebrations aim to symbolize the liberation of Sinai, as well as the various measures that were taken to reconstruct the area, and also Egypt’s ongoing struggle to protect the region from various threats.

Coptic Easter Sunday

Because Coptic Christians in Egypt rely on the Julian calendar rather than Gregorian calendar, Easter in Egypt is usually celebrated a little bit later than it is in most western countries.

Easter Sunday in Egypt is a public holiday for the general population, with most businesses and all schools closing. One of the traditions that mark Coptic Easter Sunday is the cracking open of painted eggs.

What Holidays does Egypt Celebrate in May?

There are actually two official holidays in May, with the first one being Labor Day which has historically been celebrated on the 1st of May each year. If Labor Day happens to fall on a weekday, then the holiday may be moved to a slightly later date that falls on a weekend so that people can enjoy an extended weekend. While some celebrations do take place on Labor Day, it is generally quite a quiet day, allowing workers across the country to rest and relax.

Sham Ennessim another April holiday that is a celebration of the arrival of spring in Egypt, and it is celebrated on the 6th of May each year. As with all the holidays that have been discussed in this post already, Sham Ennessim is another one of Egypt’s non-working days. This annual celebration is observed by Egyptians throughout the country.

Most Egyptians like to celebrate this day by spending the whole day outside enjoying a picnic in public gardens, at any green space, or even on the Nile River. A much loved traditional meal which is eaten on this day includes fesikh which is a type of fish that has been fermented, salted and dried. This is usually eaten alongside a mixture of lupin beans, green onions or scallions, and some lettuce.

What holidays does Egypt celebrate during the month of June?

The Day of Arafat – This is the first national holiday in June. It is an Islamic holiday that is observed throughout the Islamic world. There are typically no lively celebrations, but instead, the focus is on worship and devotion. The exact date of this holiday varies because it is based on the Islamic calendar, and it occurs on the 9th day of Dhu al-Hijjah. This is typically the 2nd day of the Hajj pilgrimage.

Eid al Adha – This year (2024), Eid al-Adha will run from June 16th to June 20th. It is the second of the two main holidays observed by Muslims around the world. Also known as the Feast of Sacrifice, this holiday commemorates the willingness of the prophet Abraham to sacrifice his child when he was ordered to do so by God.

Eid al-Adha is all about bringing people together, including family and friends. Meat is eaten for breakfast, lunch and supper. Most Egyptians will also try to wear new clothes so that they can look their best.

June 30 Day – This is a national holiday that commemorates the 2013 Egyptian uprising which saw President Muhamed Morsi being removed from office by the military only a few days later.

What Holidays Does Egypt Celebrate In July?

The second Revolution Day occurs on the 23rd of July each year. This commemorates the day that Egypt achieved full independence in 1952, following a coup which was led by General Muhammad Naguib. This coup effectively brought the monarchy to an end, and consequently an end to the Kingdom of Egypt, which now became a fully independent Republic of Egypt.

July 23rd Revolution Day is also known as the Egypt National Day. Celebrations typically include televised concerts, military parades, street celebrations, and an address from the country’s president. Quite often, some celebrations will begin on the evening of the 22nd of July to commemorate the start of the coup d’état that led Egypt to become the Republic of Egypt.

Islamic New Year

Islamic New Year is celebrated throughout the Muslim world on the first day of the lunar Islamic calendar. Islamic New Year in Egypt is typically celebrated on the eve of the old year and includes firework displays, family gatherings, and parties.

The Birth Day of the Prophet Muhammad

Mawlid al-Nabawi is believed by many Muslims to be the birth day of the Prophet Muhammad. However, Mawlid is not observed or celebrated by all Muslims. This holiday typically occurs during the third month of the Muslim calendar and is usually followed by, or accompanied by a long weekend.

Armed Forces Day

If you are still wondering what holidays does Egypt celebrate, well, Egypt also has an Armed Forces Day on the 6th of October each year. This national holiday commemorates an event in 1973 which saw Egyptian and Syrian forces launch a surprise attack on Israel which allowed them to cross over onto the Sinai Peninsula. This was essentially the start of the October 6th Yom Kippur War which lasted until the 26th of October.

Every year on Armed Forces Day, the military stage a number of events and street parades. Patriotic shows and songs are also broadcast on televisions. Celebrations typically also include firework displays in the evening.

The Holy Month of Ramadan

Ramadan, which occurs in the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, is quite often referred to as the Islamic month of fasting, and it is observed in all Muslim countries. During the month of Ramadan, Muslims abstain from eating or drinking anything from sunrise to sunset. Typically, a large wholesome breakfast is eaten prior to sunrise and then at sunset Muslims will break their fast with iftar, their second meal.

Ramadan is not a month long public holiday, but for many Muslims living in Islamic countries, it could just as well be a month-long holiday. This is because many small businesses stay shut during the month of Ramadan or else they reduce the operating hours quite considerably.

Eid Al Fitr

Eid al Fitr in Egypt is essentially a three day long celebration that commemorates the end of the month of fasting. Although eid al fitr lasts for 3 days, only one of these days is an official holiday, and a day of celebration. For Muslims, eid al fitr is a time for families, friends, and even neighbors to come together for feasting on traditional food and for conversation. Many Muslim families will also gather together to make Kahk, Petit Four, Ghoriba, and several other Eid cookies.

Young children are also typically given gifts. In a nutshell, eid al fitr is a time of celebration for Muslims throughout the entire Egyptian population. The exact dates for these celebrations vary in line with the end of Ramadan.

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Last Updated on October 1, 2024