Ms Misanthropia is hosting a blog-hop to highlight how people celebrate Christmas in different parts of the world, and this is what Christmas is like in Egypt.
Christmas in Egypt is a little unusual for several reasons:
1) Only 10% of the population is Christian, and they are Coptic (Orthodox) Christians.
2) Coptic Christians celebrate Christmas on January 7th.
3) Since it's a desert nation, there are no evergreen trees, or holly bushes, or mistletoe, or poinsettias. However, if you're looking for wise men on camels and gold, incense, and myrrh, this is the place!
Egyptian Copts celebrating Christmas in church.
Since Egypt has such a huge number of hotels, restaurants, and shops that cater to foreigners, the Egyptians have adopted many of the West's Yuletide traditions. Every hotel is decorated with fairy lights, manger scenes, wreaths, and Christmas trees.
Westerners visiting Egypt can celebrate anywhere from a small restaurant, to a Nile cruise, to a five-star hotel featuring Egyptian entertainers, like the Tanoora spinning his "skirt" over diners' heads below.
And what would Christmas be without Santa Claus? On Christmas Day, to entertain the children, Santa arrives on -- what else? -- a camel!
However you celebrate, I'm wishing you a very
44 comments:
Interesting to see what other countries do, thanks for sharing, Lexa! It seems appropriate somehow that Santa comes on a camel. . . shows he's flexible with his transportation.
Happy Christmas, Lexa.
That's so awesome seeing how people celebrate in Egypt. Loved the pictures. Happy Holidays, Lexa!
Bet the Christmas decorations are up for a very long time there.
Merry Christmas, Lexa!
Love your header! I've seen this image a few times and always loved it, so magical! Merry Christmas to you as well!
I LOVE the picture of Santa on a camel. Perfect!
Love the idea of Santa arriving on a camel. Take care and Merry Christmas to you and your family.
That would be cool to visit.
In south LA, Santa's sleigh is pulled alligators.
I love the picture of the Christmas Tree with the desert stretching behind it. It's such a gorgeously unique juxtaposition! Have a Merry Christmas back!
Happy Christmas to you! Loved this post!
There is something very odd about Christmas trees in the desert. But I like that Santa adapts to local conditions...
What a great post - and I love your Christmas header/background!
Santa on a camel and an evergreen in the desert... Christmas craziness :)
Does your family celebrate now or in January?
You made me smile with the line about finding camels, etc.
It does seem as if lights are a universal sign of celbration!
Tourists do appreciate a good show - to tell the folks back home what they missed.
Thank you for sharing. This has been an interesting challenge for us all.
Merry Christmas, Lexa. Love the photos!
What a great post, Lexa. Really enjoyed it. Thank you :-) and Merry Christmas!
Very interesting! Do they do the whole Santa story? Does he come down a chimney?
David Sedaris said he always asks, when he goes to a new place, what their Santa story is, to find out how different they really are and get a feel for the country. His story "6 To 8 Black Men" is hilarious. Your post reminded me of that.
haha!! How funny :) Being English, I have a run-of-the-mill Christmas. Eleven over for dinner this year. Too many presents. Too much of everything! LOL
Merry Christmas, my dear friend :)
What an interesting post Lexa. Such lovely pics too. Happy Christmas!
Very interesting post.
Merry Christmas, Lexa.
I had no idea how Christmas was celebrated in Egypt- so I learned a lot here today! Thanks for sharing the pictures to go with the information.
Happy Holidays-
~Jess
That sounds so interesting! I'd like to be in Egypt for Christmas someday :)
Christmas in Egypt sounds like fun, you have snow at the moment too, how perfect!
It's so funny to see Santa on a camel, I love it!
Great post :)
Merry Christmas and happy New Year to you too! Seeing Santa on a camel is kind of awesome. :)
Merry Christmas! But shouldn't Santa have eight flying camels???
Hi Lexa,
Amazing photos and a most informative posting. Thank you for that. Looks like Santa has got the hump.
A peaceful Christmas to you and a hopeful 2014.
Gary :)
Love the new blog header--very pretty!
Hope you have a Merry Christmas! :)
Seems like the original Christmas is more like how things are in Egypt!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you....;)
Santa on a camel? Priceless!
Wishing you the happiest of holidays, Lexa!
Thanks Lexa, this is really interesting. Here Santa arrives via coastguard rescue boat - at least that's how he got here last weekend at the Christmas Carols.
Claus on camel--love it! Merry Christmas, Lexa!
Merry Christmas to you, Lexa!!!
It's cool to see Egypt decorated with the lights... so pretty:) Merry Christmas, Lexa:)
I think Santa on a camel is totally appropriate. Why didn't we think of that?
Have a very Merry Christmas, Lexa. And here's to a fabulous 2014.
Thank you for taking us into Egypt during the holidays. I know someone who went this time of year and she said there were carolers and the whole shebang at her hotel and during a boat ride.
Happy holidays.
Oh fab, loved a snippet of Christmastime in Egypt! Especially Santa on the camel for some reason? :P
Happy Christmas Lexa and best of luck for much success 2014. X
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Lovely photos, Lexa, Thanks for sharing. :) Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you and your family. :)
Very interesting! Such wonderful pics, too! Merry Christmas to you and yours! See you in the New Year. :)
How interesting. Thank you for sharing. Happy holiday.
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Merry Christmas !
I really had no idea how or if Christmas was celebrated in Egypt, Lexa, so this was an absolutely fascinating post! It's so ironic that we associate (even in hot Australia) Christmas with "evergreen trees, or holly bushes, or mistletoe", and the snowy Christmas traditions established in Victorian England, when in fact, your "wise men on camels and gold, incense, and myrrh" are the real deal! :)
Merry Christmas! xo
Cool post! I loved learning about the different traditions in Egypt. Merry Christmas!
Hope you had a great Christmas, Lexa! And have a happy new year!
Cool! I learned something new today. :)
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