How to celebrate Christmas in Egypt

Christmas Eve, a Christian holiday commemorating the eve of Jesus’ birth, is celebrated around the world on December 24.

There are a number of symbols and customs that usually accompany Christmas Eve. One of the most popular is the rooster mass or mass of the shepherds, which lasts 2 hours and ends exactly at midnight, to celebrate the birth of the child God.

Another interesting fact of this night is the exchange of gifts after midnight, as a symbolic representation of the delivery of gifts by the Three Wise Men to the little Jesus.

During this Christmas season, traditions and customs to celebrate this special date vary from one country to another. Among the most common Christian traditions are the decoration of the Christmas tree and the placement of the nativity scene.

Christmas cards are sent, traditional dishes are prepared for Christmas dinner, fasting, masses and gift-giving.

Few people will be unaware that the Holy Family, when the Child Jesus had just been born, lived in Egypt for almost four years. According to historical sources, in ancient times there were three paths to follow from Palestine to Egypt, but the Holy Family did not choose any of them. It walked from Bethlehem to Gaza and made its first stop in El-Farma, the destroyed city of ancient Egypt, located on the Sinai Peninsula. Fifty miles northwest of Cairo, the second stop was Tel Basta, where Jesus Christ brought forth a spring of water and where he was persecuted.
In their flight south, the family reached the town of Mostorod, just 10 kilometers from the Egyptian capital, which later became known as al–Mahamma. They continued to the village of Belbeis, 55 kilometers from Cairo, where the Virgin and Child are said to have rested under a tree, known since then as “the Tree of the Virgin Mary”. From Belbeis they left from the northwest towards Minyet Samannud, where they crossed the Nile towards Samannud.
The Holy Family reached the village of Sakha, where the footprint of Jesus is marked on a rock, and then headed towards Wadi Natrun, a place blessed by Jesus Christ and his mother. After leaving the desert they headed south to the city of Cairo, crossing the Nile River to the east and heading to the area of Matariah and Ain Shams.
This area is considered one of the most important areas and stops where the Holy Family has been. There are many churches and monasteries there. This area was blessed by the presence of the Holy Family, who could not stay there more than a few days, since the idols were broken, provoking the governor of Al-Fustat who wanted to kill the Child Jesus.
In the church of St. Sergius (Abu Sirga) is the cave in which the Holy Family took refuge. It is considered one of the most important monuments of the Holy Family in Old Cairo. We also highlight the Church of Al-Moallaqa, also known as the Church Suspended for supporting one of the towers of the ancient fortress of Babylon. This route is still possible today.

In Egypt, Coptic Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus is not celebrated in Egypt on December 25 but on January 7, a date equivalent to the 29th day of the Coptic month of “kiohk or Khiahk”, while in many other countries Christmas is celebrated on December 25 and Coptic Christmas will be celebrated on January 8 in relation to the Western calendar.