The North American country of Egypt celebrates its New Year, according to Christianity traditions, and according to Islamic traditions. Egyptians consider it to be a significant festival of their year, and thus, reflects the same with their degree of zeal and enthusiasm of celebrations. The party mood is at its peak; with everyone seem to be heading towards the most extravagant party of the town. Though, the modern period New Year celebrations have went through a significant change from the ancient times, but one can still have a precise look and reflection of Christianity and Islamic customs and traditions in the New Year celebrations of Egyptians.

Traditional New Year Celebrations in Egypt

Christianity New Year in Egypt

New Year celebrated in accordance to Christianity traditions is popularly referred as ‘Coptic New Year’ in Egypt. On the aspects of religion, it is considered to be a time of the recurrence of the Sirius or the Dog Star in the skies of Egypt. It is the time when Coptic martyrs are remembered by the Copts. As a part of the same, everything is ensured to be put in red, from altars to vestments of the religious officials; and also red dates are eaten on the occasion. It is considered to be a mark of honor to the spilled red blood of Coptic martyrs.

Islamic New Year in Egypt

New Year celebrated in accordance to Islamic customs and traditions is also a grand show or celebration. As soon as the new crescent Moon draws over the sky of Egypt, the entire Egyptian skyline gets illustrated with beautiful gleaming lights, and firecracker shows. However, the date and time of appearance of new crescent Moon is well predicted in advance, but in real, the New Year celebrations are only officially imitated with the actual appearance of the new crescent Moon. As soon as that occurs, an official announcement is made for the same from Muhammad Ali mosque, situated at the tip of the hill of Cairo, Egypt.

New Year time brings in enormous moments of pleasure for the entire population. Girls, who are otherwise not allowed to wear anything other than black, are allowed to wear colorful clothes on New Year.

Other New Year Celebrations in Egypt

In their respective belief, people in Egypt celebrate New Year with lots of enthusiasm. Usually, people prefer to spend that time with close friends and family. Usually, one along with one’s entire family makes a visit to family and close friend’s house, with gifts and sweets for everyone. In certain villages of the country, the head of the house goes to every other house in the neighborhood, to confer everyone with his best wishes for the coming New Year. On the way, other people join him, and this goes on till the time heads of all the houses gather at the end. At the end, they all go to the Mayor’s house to mutually wish them with peaceful and prosperous times ahead.

On the midnight of the arrival of New Year, special dishes are prepared to be served on the dinner platter. Also, everyone is treated with traditional sweets. While boys of young age are conferred with sweets of the shape of a boy riding a horse, girls get sweets in the shape of a girl wearing a beautiful dress. These sweets and other gifts are wrapped up in colorful and flaunting papers, to make them look attractive.

More New Year Traditions