Egyptian Customs and Traditions – What To Know

Egyptian customs and traditions

Customs and traditions vary among all peoples, as customs are what generations have inherited in actions and sayings, and they remain present in occasions, religious and social rituals, and more. Therefore, in Egypt, which is rich in customs and traditions, it is essential to pause and talk about Egyptian customs. Customs and traditions in Egypt vary among the Egyptians and differ from one occasion to another. The people in Egypt follow many of these customs and traditions in times of sorrow, joy, and festivals, including the following:

Marriage customs in Egypt

Marriage ceremonies in Egypt usually begin with the recitation of Al-Fatiha, where the bride’s family and the bride meet to agree on the dowry that the groom will pay to the bride, and the “shabka,” which is a gift of gold or other jewelry given to the bride. Then, the date for the “katb el-kitab,” which is the marriage contract, is agreed upon. This may take place on the wedding day itself, during which the marriage is officially recorded by the officiant.

The engagement party is then held in a wedding hall, or in one of the hotels, or at the bride’s father’s house, where the bride’s jewelry is presented. After that, the henna party takes place, where the bride’s female relatives and friends go to her house on the night before the wedding day to sing, dance, and celebrate.

Then, finally, the wedding party takes place, where the bride wears a white wedding dress, and the groom wears a suit. The celebration is enlivened with dancing to the music, serving food, cake, and sharbat, which is the traditional wedding drink in Egypt made from fruits and herbs.

One of the distinctive features of Egyptian weddings is the “kousha,” which is the elevated platform where the bride and groom sit during the ceremony. It is usually adorned with beautiful decorations, and guests give the couple monetary gifts known as “naqa.”

For thousands of years, the pharaohs created a great civilization whose traces remain to this day. However, what many do not know is that some of the customs and traditions they practiced are still present in our daily lives, and among the most notable of these customs are:

Fortieth day of the deceased

The tradition of commemorating the deceased forty days after their passing is one of the deeply rooted Egyptian customs that have been passed down through generations, from the time of the pharaohs to the present day. On this day, the deceased’s family gathers at his grave to recite the Quran and remember God in mourning for his soul, and they distribute alms to the poor and needy. The roots of this custom trace back to the mummification rituals of the pharaohs, which took a period ranging from 40 to 70 days. On the fortieth day, the soul was considered to have been freed from its body and was ready to travel to the afterlife.

Burning incense

Incense is one of the oldest practices known to humanity, and it is closely associated with ancient Egyptian civilization, where the pharaohs used it in their religious rituals, believing in its ability to purify the place and uplift the spirit. On the walls of Egyptian temples, we find drawings illustrating the ritual of burning incense, where the temple was the sacred place for communicating with the gods, and burning incense was one of the most important offerings made to the deities. And this tradition is still present to this day, where incense is used to fill the air with a distinctive scent, and on Fridays to ward off envy. The journey of Queen Hatshepsut to the Land of Punt, which lasted six months to bring back incense trees, shows the importance of this material to the pharaohs.

Perfume making

The Egyptians’ love for perfumes still fills the present, without many realizing that this habit is an extension of the grandeur of the ancient Pharaonic civilization. The methods of perfume-making are inspired by the ancient techniques that were prevalent during the Pharaonic era, where perfume bottles were discovered in Pharaonic tombs dating back thousands of years.Archaeological discoveries indicate that the ancient Egyptians excelled in extracting perfumes by soaking fragrant woods in a mixture of oil and water, and they would anoint their bodies with it. They also used other types to preserve the bodies of the dead during the mummification process.The inscriptions on the walls of the ancient Egyptians’ tombs show many images depicting how the pharaohs burned incense, resin, and wood, expressing their love for pleasant scents. They would crush flowers, mix them with oils, and then store them in pottery jars.Perfume production was not available to all members of society; it was limited to kings, queens, and priests. Due to the high temperatures in Egypt, ancient Egyptians from all social classes embraced the use of perfumes.One of the most famous types of perfumes used by the ancient Egyptians was the lotus flower, from which attractive oils were extracted.Queen Cleopatra VII was also famous for her alluring perfume, which made everyone who approached her fall in love with her, captivating emperors and kings from around the world.

The talisman and amulet to ward off magic

The use of amulets and talismans dates back to the Pharaonic era, where the ancient Egyptians believed in the power of magic and evil. They would create specific charms and hieroglyphic writings in the folds of their clothing, around their necks, or on their head coverings to protect themselves from harm.It was placed on the body of the deceased and under the thresholds of houses to protect them from the evil of magic.

Wearing black clothes expresses sadness.

The color black is associated with sadness in our current era, as it is considered an Egyptian custom inherited from the pharaohs, where the ancient Egyptians used to wear black clothing as an expression of grief and mourning for the deceased.

The wife’s dowry list.

The Pharaohs cared about women’s rights in marriage, as the ancient Egyptians were keen to document everything the bride brought before her marriage in a document known as the “marriage contract,” which is currently called the “list.” It is akin to a trust contract, as stipulated by the penal code. The husband must acknowledge that he has received the marital list and is obligated to return it whenever requested. The items are detailed and enumerated, and the husband signs them.

Mourning ceremonies

In the mourning rituals, famous Quran reciters are hired, and they gather around the deceased when he is placed on the bed. It is also customary to visit their deceased on holidays.

Childbirth

One week after the birth of the babies, neighbors and relatives gather to celebrate the new arrival, offering gifts to the newborn.

The Prophet’s Birthday

It is a great occasion celebrated since ancient times, where it has been customary to organize parades attended by youth, children, and elders. They raise flags inscribed with phrases praising the Prophet, peace be upon him, and they parade around the city in celebration of this occasion. This tradition is mostly inherited from the Pharaohs, who had processions during festivals to celebrate the gods and offer sacrifices.

Sham el-Nessim

Which is celebrated on the twenty-first of April each year, when Egyptians eat feseekh (salted fish) and go to parks to enjoy the breeze, a tradition of the ancient Egyptians.

Among the distinctive customs of Egyptians are the following:

The gasp of molokhia

It is one of the eating habits in Egypt, where women inhale air while opening their mouths when adding garlic while cooking molokhia, which is considered one of the well-known dishes there, believing that it helps to add a delicious taste to it.

Entering with the right foot

Egyptians usually take care when going to a new place, such as entering a new house, to step in or take the first step with the right foot, believing that this helps bring blessings, goodness, and happiness.

Pouring coffee

Many Egyptians consider spilling coffee, which is one of the most popular beverages in Egypt, by mistake as a good sign and an indication of hearing good news or that good things will happen soon.

Knock on wood

When talking about blessings or good things in a person’s life, listeners and the speaker usually make sure to knock on nearby wood (the table) to protect the speaker from envy, according to their belief.

Traditional clothing in Egypt

In North and South Sinai, men wear the ghutrah, agal, bisht, abaya, galabeya, and sandals as traditional attire. The abaya is worn over the galabeya, and it is either brown or black. Men are prohibited from wearing the color red. As for women, they wear a long, loose black dress, adorned with an embroidered belt at the waist. They also wear a black scarf that covers their entire body, along with a face veil decorated with silver and copper jewelry.

The color of the dress varies according to the woman’s marital status, as married women wear red while unmarried women wear blue.

Men in the Luxor region wear loose traditional galabiyas, along with a taqshita underneath, and a turban that covers the head. They also wear a caftan on their shoulders. Women wear the habra, jubba, and mask, some of which are black and consist of two parts: the upper part is sleeveless, and the lower part has sleeves. Others are loose black abayas, topped with a piece of cloth to cover the shoulders.

As for the Alexandria Governorate, it is famous for the fishermen’s attire, which consists of loose black trousers and a white shirt for men.