Egypt
is a country with an immense cultural mix, In every major city in Egypt you
will find traditions that remain from the time of the Pharaohs, and in other
parts you will find pure tribal customs that were brought in by many invaders
throughout the centuries.
That contradiction and contrast between areas of
Egypt, when you compare it with other Middle Eastern countries, is what makes
Egypt seem advanced against some of the others. Yet here you will find that the
customs and mentality tends to be full of warmth towards visitors and foreigners.
I guess this could be the secret why Egypt is considered the most attractive
country in the region for travellers. The pure nature of the local Egyptians
pops up whenever you need help or when they invite you into their homes and
when they hardly know you, or when they smile in your face! All of that makes a
visit to Egypt a wonderful and unforgettable experience.
Egypt's
population is around 71 million. Around 62 million of them are Sunni Muslims
and about 8-9 Million are Coptic Christians (Christian Egyptians), although
public statistics indicate that they are not more than 7 million. Whether
Muslim or Copt, the Egyptians are moderately religious and religious principles
are quite noticeable in their daily lives. Here each family member is responsible
for the integrity of his or her family and for the behaviour of other members,
creating an environment that would be envied by many people in the West. Here
they are very close to each other, family ties are far stronger than in the
west, and that is why you will find any major city in Egypt is a lot safer than
any western metropolis.
Yet
when travellers come to Egypt they are often apprehensive, their views of
Egyptians and Arabs, fomented by unkind and untrue media stories, often bear no
relation to reality. Travellers, when they meet Egyptians are often surprised
by their friendly, hospitable reception and take home with them good feelings
about Egypt and its population.
Egyptians
form a society of a mixture of Middle Eastern family standards, taken from the
different religious rules, whether in Islam or Christianity, it creates a sort
of background that can colour their decision-making in a way difficult for
foreigners to understand, yet it is precisely this training that makes
Egyptians some of the most charming and helpful of hosts. By understanding the
culture and with consideration for your hosts, you can be a welcome guest in
Egypt.
In
general, Egyptians are most accommodating and they will go out of their way to
help you and respond to any questions you have. Most Egyptians require little
personal space and will stand within inches of you to talk! You will find that
whenever you start talking with an Egyptian, you will inevitably draw a crowd,
and often the Egyptians will start discussing, among themselves, about the
correct answer to a question.
Click here for Some
useful Arabic words
Although most of the Muslims in Egypt do not drink alcohol
they don't object to others drinking, but doing it in reasonable
amounts. In Egypt people don't eat pork, and rarely, when you
find a place that offers pork, is there much choice on the menu.
Egyptians like rest of the
Muslims all over the world fast at holy month of Rama dan, it is the time when they all
come close to each other and respect each other, it is the time Egypt stay
awake at night.
During this month, donations, almsgiving and charity would be at
its highest rates, it is the time for forgiveness and love. It is a
wonderful month.
Interested
to know about Ramadan?? Click here toknow more
In Egypt there are
hardly any restrictions on foreign women. Ticket lines, for example, are
occasionally segregated, women line up with other women (especially as the
lines are usually shorter). On the underground lines, the first car is usually
reserved for women, especially elderly ones. For men, speaking to an unknown
Egyptian woman is a breach of etiquette, so take care in any liaisons you form
because some families still follow ancient traditions. Crime in Egypt is nearly
nonexistent, and violence is usually limited to family feuds. However, in
tourism areas some pickpockets and petty thieves may exist, so be careful and
remember that the ever-helpful tourism police are usually nearby. Women must be
cautious, especially in out-lying areas. Stay completely away from drugs and
leave yours at home.
Egyptians, if offered
anything, will refuse the first invitation, which is customary, so therefore
(unless you're dealing with Egyptians used to western frankness) you should do
the same. If the offer is from the heart, and not just politeness,it will be repeated.
If you're invited into a home, especially in small villages, and have to
refuse, the householder will often press for a promise from you to visit in the
future, usually for a meal. If you make such a promise, keep it, for having
foreign guests is often considered a social coup. If you fail to arrive, your
would-be host will be humiliated. To repay invitations, you may host a dinner
in a restaurant, a common practice.
Tipping is a way of
life in Egypt, if someone does something you would consider as an extra effort,
he expects to be tipped. You should only tip if you feel you want to, you are
under no pressure to do so, but it would leave a good impression, and many
Egyptian people survive on very little.
Tip appropriately and
please, don't give small notes or coins as a tip to people who helped you all
the way throughout your trip, such as drivers, tour leaders, and tour escorts,
it would be an insult to them, Also, do not offer tips to professionals, businessmen,
or others who would consider themselves your equals, as you may seriously
offend them by your act.
Women in Egypt are
quite beautiful! The Egyptian woman is well educated, spending a great part of
her life being cherished and looked after by her parents until she gets
married.
In Egypt 85% of the
girls will keep themselves virgins until they get married, this is a common
choice in the Middle East, as men usually believe that this is a sign of
morality and good karma. 90% of Egyptian men prefer virgin women to marry.
in Egypt will find
plenty of girls wearing a scarf, it is common these days among many families.
Nowadays in Egypt, many women wear a head scarf, demonstrating either modesty
or Muslim piety. One reason many young professional women favour this is that
it tends to discourage male advances, physical or verbal.
It is very important in
Islam that the woman is less seductive to a stranger and shows modesty. You may
find it difficult not to impose your western concepts of feminism on such an
inherent part of life. From the 1930s onwards, Egyptian women began to enter
into business and many professions, and by 1965, thanks in part to social
changes affected in the course of the July Revolution, Egypt could boast a far
higher proportion of women working as doctors, dentists, lawyers, professors,
diplomats, ministers, or high officials than might have been found in the US or
in any European country outside of Scandinavia.
Foreign women
travelling alone in Egypt are generally very safe, however they will be noticed
much less in larger cities than in smaller towns or in the countryside. Should
any problems, or difficulties arise, help should be sought from the police or
any shopkeeper in the vicinity! Women shouldn't walk alone in isolated areas,
which is true in any other city or place around the world. Though most male
advances are innocent and harmless, women should not accept these advances from
strangers. And dressing appropriately is just plain common sense!
All famous and major
mosques are open to tourists, except for when services are in progress (the
main service is on Friday at noon). Keep in mind that a mosque differs from a
western church in that Christian churches are considered houses of God, while
mosques are more a gathering place for the faithful of Islam. All visitors to mosques,
mausoleums, and Madrassas (religious schools) must remove their shoes! Most
Muslims walk around in their stockings, yet sometimes in those mosques that are
major tourist attractions, canvas overshoes are available; a tip of 50 PT to 1
LE is in order for the people who put them on for you. Women must cover bare
arms. There is no need to wear a hat, or to cover hair. Men and women should
wear a long shirt and long trousers when you visit a mosque.
The business and
secular community in Egypt operates under the Western (Gregorian) calendar
(B.C/A.D). But other calendars have official status in Egypt. The Islamic
calendar (A.H) is used to fix religious observances and is based on a lunar
cycle of 12 months of 29or 30 days. The Muslim year is thus 11 days shorter
than the year according to the Gregorian calendar and months move forward
accordingly.
In the Gregorian
calendar, for example, April is always in the spring, but in the Muslim
calendar all months move through all seasons in a 33-year cycle.
The Coptic calendar
(A.M) is based on a solar cycle and consists of 12 months of 30 days and one
month of 5 days. Every four years a sixth day is added to the shorter month.
Many farmers, for planting and harvesting crops, use an adaptation of the
Coptic calendar. The authorities of the Coptic Orthodox Church use it.
Day
|
Description
|
1st day of Spring (2nd Monday after the
Coptic Easter day)
|
It is called Sham El-Nessim day (Just avoid going
out on this day to national parks and the zoo)
|
25th April
|
Sinai liberation day
|
1st May
|
Workers day
|
23rd July
|
1952 revolution day
|
6th October
|
Armed forces day, victory day 1973
|
13th October
|
Suez liberation day
|
23rd December
|
Victory day
|
Eid El-Adha (Sacrifice feast )
|
Comes right after the pilgrimage season, it lasts
for four days
|
Eid El-Fitr (Breakfast feast)
|
comes right after the Holy fasting month of
Ramadan
|
Will Be Back.............!
