Customs of the Egyptians in our time. National traditions and customs of Egypt

Egypt has a rich history and culture dating back thousands of years, from the culture of the pharaohs to Christianity and Islam. Egypt became the birthplace of one of the first civilizations. Its culture has been influenced by many other ethnic groups that have either lived in or invaded the country.

The traditions of modern Egypt may seem a little different from those we are used to, which in turn can make tourists feel confused at times. To understand the atmosphere of Egypt, it is necessary to carefully study the culture, customs and family values ​​of the people inhabiting this country. If you learn to understand and respect other people's values, traveling to Egypt will bring you even more pleasure.

Egyptian traditions: believers and food

Most Muslims in Egypt do not drink alcohol. However, they don't mind when others drink. However, it is important that you drink alcohol in moderation in Egypt. Egyptian traditions do not involve eating pork, but for visitors there is always a restaurant or cafe that serves dishes made from this meat.

Note for women

In Egypt, there are several restrictions for visiting women. In the ticket line, foreign women stand in line with other women.

Direct interaction with is never recommended. It is always wise to talk to them through someone local or people you know well.

Crime

Egypt has a low crime rate, but domestic violence is common. From time to time there are petty thieves and pickpockets. Women should be on their guard, especially in areas far from the city center. Drug use is frowned upon, so taking or carrying drugs in public is not recommended to avoid problems with the law.

Warmth and hospitality

Egypt has amazing natural, historical and cultural attractions, so tourism here serves as one of the main sources of income. Egyptians are extremely friendly, open to other cultures and known for their hospitality, so don't be surprised if people invite you into their homes and insist that you accept the invitation.

Egyptians are generally friendly by nature and love to help people. If you ask them any question, they will answer it willingly. It is also interesting that whenever you ask an Egyptian a question, he will call other people to discuss it and will try to give you the most accurate and correct answer to the question asked.

Family

Traditions in Egypt are strictly followed when it comes to family matters. Family is very important to Egyptians, so they place special emphasis on family values ​​and relationships. Respect between family members leads to the fact that children most often live with their parents before starting their own family and having children. In general, parents encourage marriage and financially support their sons and daughters to get married. Egyptians love to hold large wedding celebrations where they invite all family members and friends.

Typically, responsibilities are distributed in such a way that women remain in charge of childcare, while men are responsible for financial support of the family.

Since family members are very attached to each other, they deeply mourn the death of a family member. It is common to wear only black for at least 40 days after the death of a family member, and they may grieve for up to a year. This is one of the traditions inherited from the great pharaohs. Traditions in Egypt are such that it is considered inappropriate to show any signs of happiness during a funeral.

Holidays

Egyptians love different celebrations. Close family members and friends always get together during holidays and special celebrations.

Because of the great love for food, the whole family usually prepares and sets the table; on such occasions, cooking together is common here. It seems that the culinary traditions of Ancient Egypt have been preserved here to this day. Women usually take pride in their ability to cook: they like to compete with each other to see who can cook the most delicious dish. Interestingly, restaurants are one of the most thriving businesses as Egyptians enjoy trying new cuisines and value delicious food.

How to respond if an Egyptian invites you to his home

Traditions in Egypt suggest that if you are invited to visit, you must first refuse. If the owner really wants you to visit his home, he will give you a second invitation. In this case, you should not refuse the invitation. If for some reason you do not have the opportunity to visit an Egyptian, be sure to promise that you will visit him next time. However, it is still better to accept the invitation, since otherwise there is a chance that your host will feel humiliated. Hospitality is one of the characteristic features of the Egyptians, so inviting guests is a national tradition in Egypt. Representatives of the people of this country are always pleased to show respect and look after their guests. If you want, you can even grab a few gifts for the host, but check if the gift matches his status.

Egypt: religion

Religion plays a big role in the lives of Egyptians, and it is mixed into the daily activities of Muslims and Christians living in Egypt. Mosques are located here and there, so when walking along the streets of Egyptian cities, you can hear the call to pray up to five times a day.

Although Egyptians use the Western calendar, they refer to the calendar of Islamic religious holidays, and Ramadan is the most important month of the year. Ramadan is a holy month for Egyptians, which they celebrate with friends and relatives. During this month, Egyptians stay awake at night and spend time in prayer and spiritual activities. They also do charity work, reconnect, and share love and affection for each other. Despite this, the tourist season in Egypt continues even during the holy month.

Places of prayer

Places designated for prayer are considered sacred by Egyptians, and therefore tourists from abroad should respect such churches and mosques, of which there are a huge number in Egypt.

So, when a person enters the territory of a place where prayers are held, he should take off his shoes and cover his head. You should also wear modest clothing that covers most of your body. Interestingly, Friday in Egypt is considered the holy day of the week.

Tips

In Egypt, tipping is encouraged and often expected. You can offer tips not only to the waiters, but also to all the people who helped you during your trip. However, try to avoid large sums - Egyptians perceive this as an insult. Either way, tipping is a great way to make a good impression on the people around you. However, you should not offer tips to people of your status or professionals.

To summarize

If you want to read about Egypt, traditions and customs in a short summary, then the following can be said about this topic: Egypt's long history, tourist attractions and geographical location make it an ideal destination for business and tourism. But before you visit this country, it is important to understand the culture and traditions of this place.

Egypt is a truly unique country where the traditions and customs of Ancient Egypt are combined with the modern structure of society. Egypt has been through a lot: it has been the victim of many invaders in the past, and has recently suffered from economic and political problems. But Egyptians continue to love and enjoy their lives, despite all the difficulties and problems. Perhaps by visiting Egypt, you can learn the positive thinking that is so inherent in the local population.

The traditions and customs of Ancient Egypt fascinate many people. After all, they are interesting, with their own history. All these traditions are reflected in the country’s sights and in the people who inhabit it. In this article we will look at what customs and traditions were in Ancient Egypt.

What are traditions based on?

We can safely say that the main factor that influences traditions is the geographical location of the country. Almost all traditions are in one way or another connected with some dates and objects. There is a connection between them - this could be an origin or a period. Moreover, each group of traditions is interesting in its own way and stands out in some way.

Religion has a great influence on Egyptian culture. Religion divides the life of each person into periods, moments. The Egyptians went to prayer five times a day. During Ramadan, night turns to day. Muslims had to fast and pray all day, and only after sunset could they start eating.

It is also worth paying attention to family traditions. Every man has the right to have up to four wives - and he cannot divorce them. Although Ramses the Great had 8 wives and 100 concubines. A man could get a divorce only if his wife cheated on him or could not have children. If a divorce took place, then he lived with his mother until he was 14 years old, and then he was given to his father.

Advice

A man couldn’t just marry like that. To get married, he had to buy an apartment and give the bride (valuable) gifts. Her parents also had to give consent to the wedding. The men also had to go through an ancient procession - paying the bride price for the bride. Many of these traditions still exist today.

One can also talk about the whims of the pharaoh. He never showed his hair, but always wore a headdress called NEMES. There is also another tradition - so that the pharaoh did not suffer from flies, he always had slaves with him, who were smeared with honey. These honey slaves attracted flies to them. There is also the fact that in every temple of Ancient Egypt, the pharaoh had to perform the duties of a priest, but he did not do this. Instead, these functions were performed by the chief priests whom he appointed.

Why did men and women wear makeup?

Yes, they wore green and black makeup (it was made of copper and lead). The fact is that they believed in the miraculous powers of this makeup. The original version of applying makeup was sun protection.

In ancient times there were no strong effective medicines. Therefore, they were treated in other ways. For example, moldy bread was used as a treatment for infections, and later mold became a source of penicillin and antibiotics.

Clothing and appearance

It is worth noting that until the children turned 10 years old, they did not wear clothes at all. Moreover, it was hot. Clothes for men and women were skirts and dresses, respectively. As for hairstyles, the wealthy could afford to wear wigs, and those who were poor wore their hair in ponytails. Until the age of 12, boys had to shave their heads, leaving only a small ponytail. Such measures were taken to ensure that they did not have lice and fleas.

Egyptian character

Remember once and for all: Egypt is a Muslim country. Yes, there are Christians here - Copts, in other words. Yes, there are adherents of other religions. But they are a minority. A noticeable minority. Therefore, Egypt is a Muslim country. This means that the entire life and traditions of the Egyptians pass through Muslim dogmas, with all the ensuing consequences. There is no need to be intimidated by the singing of the muezzin, who calls the faithful to prayer five times a day through a loudspeaker. Usually, at this time, no matter what the Egyptian is doing, he drops everything he is doing and goes to pray. Even if it is a bus driver taking tourists to a hotel, believe me, he will stop the car and go to pray. And let the whole world wait…

Egyptians are never in a hurry; they do everything slowly. There is even a long-established expression in the world: “Egyptian time” (“Egyptian time”). Egyptians are late everywhere and always. Not rushing anywhere is generally a characteristic feature of this people, partly due to the hot climate. Well, do you really want to rush somewhere, or do anything at all, when it’s +35°C outside? Therefore, you should not be surprised if the hotel, in response to your request to bring something to drink, you will wait for a very long time, or maybe they will completely forget about you. Among other things, Egyptians take a very long time to make decisions (what's the rush?) and are constantly late for meetings. Having made an appointment with an Egyptian for 3 o'clock, you can arrive at 4 o'clock and be the first, and at 7 o'clock you will receive a call or a note apologizing for being late and asking to reschedule the date for tomorrow at the same time. Do not be offended and do not find out the reasons - you will receive in response the phrase: “Egyptian time!”

The ritual of meeting the Egyptians is very entertaining. For example, when meeting a woman, the man always introduces himself first - then the woman. If an unmarried woman and an unmarried man meet, the woman always introduces herself as married, and the man as married. Such rules help to avoid various rumors and gossip from the outside. When meeting someone, they must say “fursa saidida,” which means “very nice, glad to meet you” (literal translation: “happy occasion”) and shake their right hand. It is not customary to offer your left hand; it is considered bad manners. In addition, the left hand in Egypt is associated with something unclean (Egyptians use their left hand to wash their private parts). Only a verbal greeting is sufficient; a handshake between a man and a woman is prohibited. And when two women greet, a handshake is obligatory, as is a symbolic kiss on both cheeks. If men have not seen each other for a long time and know each other well, when they meet, they can hug each other and kiss each other on both cheeks. A kiss on the cheek between a man and a woman when meeting is absolutely unacceptable (!!!).

Egyptians are Muslims; like all true Muslim believers, they do not drink alcohol or eat pork. DO NOT give them alcoholic drinks, sausage and other pork products - this act, dictated by good intentions on your part, will be perceived incorrectly and may offend the feelings of true Muslims.

One of the interesting features of the character of the Egyptians is that they are all very superstitious people. Everywhere you can see amulets against the evil eye, amulets that attract money, amulets for health and much more. There are amulets at the entrances to poor houses and luxury apartments, and on the window of a small shop, and on the glass of an expensive car, and under the lapel of a jacket from a French Couturier, and on the national galabaya. Sometimes their superstitions reach the point of absurdity: for example, if you praise an Egyptian too much for the services provided to you, he may take it as if you are trying to jinx him. Or, for example, what’s unkind, say how beautiful a woman looks or how good her children are. Such words may be mistaken for a desire to jinx if the phrase is not accompanied by the expression “ma shaa-lla!”, which means “By the grace of God!”

By the way, children in Egypt are protected from the evil eye in very unconventional ways: they are called by dissonant names, boys are dressed in dresses and even their ears are pierced, the child’s face is smeared with soot, thus disguising it so as not to attract attention. For example, on the streets of Egyptian cities you can see how an excellently dressed mother, fragrant with expensive aromas, walks decorously with a child who is dressed in unwashed cast-offs, and his face is heavily smeared with soot. According to caring parents, such a child will not attract the attention of envious people. All available and known means are used to ensure that the child is not jinxed. Here, as they say, everything depends on the imagination, or on the creativity of the parents.

There are other superstitions. For example, showing the sole of your shoe can be a sign of disrespect. This may cause anger in the offended Egyptian. At night you cannot cut your hair and nails, clean your apartment, or put your shoes in a crisscross pattern. You can't sew at night. Such superstitions are common in other countries, but Egypt is their founder.

If you want to take photographs with local residents while on vacation, be sure to ask their permission before taking photographs. Egyptians are very friendly and helpful, and will most likely agree to take a couple of photos, but they won’t do anything for nothing. When providing any service, you will be asked for “baksheesh”, which is approximately 5% of the cost of the service. Therefore, think about how you will pay before accepting help from someone or asking for something. Remember, too, that the Koran prohibits impersonating a person, and it may not be acceptable for a religious Egyptian to pose for the camera. Asking to take a photo with an Egyptian woman is the height of indecency.

Egypt is an eastern country, and in the East, as you know, it is customary to bargain. The more firmly you stand your ground, the more respectful they will treat you. Before you buy anything on the market, ask the price, and then be sure to bargain, and under no circumstances make concessions. This way you can reduce the price by 5 times or more.

Since Muslim Egyptians are prohibited by religion from drinking alcohol, all of them, both men and women here, are passionate smokers. The most popular local cigarettes in the country are Cleopatra. But most of all, hookah smoking, which is called “shisha” here, is widespread in Egypt. In Egypt, there are a huge number of varieties of hookah tobacco - it can be light and strong, with the aroma of honey, apples, watermelon, strawberries, peaches and many other fruits and aromas. In any cafe, after a cup of strong coffee, you can smoke a hookah, which is what local residents often do. In addition, almost all Egyptians smoke hashish. Not every day, not often, and some even only on holidays, but nevertheless they smoke. They use hashish to relieve stress and tension (instead of alcohol).

This is not to say that there is no crime in Egypt, but its level in the country is low. The most common crimes are simple thefts, especially in crowded places there are a lot of pickpockets. But, perhaps, the greatest danger on the streets of the country is created by absolutely unbridled local drivers. This is who the phrase “monkey with a grenade” really suits best. No one knows what can be expected from them in the next moment. Here they absolutely ignore road markings, never use turn signals, do not look in the rear and side view mirrors, and they consider high beams in the evening and at night to be simply an indecent act and cause a violent response from drivers of oncoming cars. Drivers always honk: when they want to turn, when they just want to greet someone, or they simply honk at the car ahead. A minibus or bus can change its direction or stop location at any time, and passengers jump onto the bus while it is moving, the driver does not even cover the open doors. Overall, it's fun...

Egyptians love football very much. On the day of important matches, fans go to street cafes, where a large TV is installed, and everyone can enjoy watching their favorite team play. The largest and most popular football clubs in Egypt are Ahly and Zamalek.

Egyptians know how to rejoice and easily strike up friendships with the person they like. They are jealous of statements about their homeland, therefore, any criticism of the government is perceived as rudeness.

There are different layers of society in Egypt, from the lower to the upper class. Representatives of high society, as a rule, live in the capital of Egypt - Cairo; they are educated and cultured, speak languages, dress in a European style, and are interested in modern art, music, and literature. The middle class usually lives in houses that are not fully completed; they are built on several floors. This is done on purpose, because no tax is charged for an unfinished house, and when children or grandchildren are born in the family, the house is completed by one more floor, but still remains unfinished. The lower strata of the population are forced to live in the “city of the dead” - they are the “dregs of society,” losers who have not realized themselves in life.

Egyptian clothing

The hot desert climate also left its mark on the clothing of the Egyptians. The traditional men's clothing of peasants (fellahs) is a long, toe-length shirt made of blue or white cotton fabric (“galabeya”), which is worn over short pants. The headdress is a felt yarmulke (“lebda”). In cold weather, put on a coat, jacket or some other warm garment. Middle-income people and rich people prefer European-style clothing.

Women here wear black hijabs, which were previously intended to protect from the hot sun and strong wind, but have now become an integral part of a religious woman. Often, women liven up their outfits with brightly colored elements, sometimes with embellishments and lace. BUT, there are cases when women wear European clothes, often these are those who studied at universities and work as doctors, teachers, and lawyers.

For tourists, there are huge concessions in terms of clothing, but still, it is worth respecting Muslim traditions. You should not appear on the city streets with bare shoulders, short skirts or tight jeans. An open neckline, bare back and bare legs are also not the best attire for a girl outside the hotel. If you do not want to attract the attention of local men, who can be very intrusive, it is better to choose more modest clothes when going out into the city. Sunbathing on the beach without a swimsuit top is here, too. not accepted, Egypt has never been famous for its tolerance towards nudists.

The same applies to men. Outside the hotel, you should think about your wardrobe. Shorts must cover your knees, you cannot walk on the streets without a shirt or T-shirt, and bare feet can be considered a sign of poverty.

Egyptian wedding

An Egyptian family is usually created not by the wishes of the young, but by the agreement of the parents. People here are used to observing centuries-old traditions. In more liberal families, children choose their own mate, but the parents’ opinion is still taken into account. Egyptian women get married very early, as soon as they start menstruating. Girls at the age of 13 - 14 are usually already married, or, in extreme cases, engaged. But no Egyptian young lady will marry an untenable groom, even if her age is running out.

Before the Egyptian woman becomes her legal wife, her life is not at all sugar - the parents do not take their eyes off their daughter, because even a friendly kiss can become an obstacle to her marriage. If a girl has allowed herself something free, then she must marry a seducer. If not, then she is doomed to be called a “sharmuta” (prostitute) for the rest of her life. She is sent out of sight into the wilderness of the village to do various agricultural work. There she grows old alone and in the future she will have no hopes for marriage, family or a happy life.

As a rule, before the engagement, a girl and a young man MUST meet in the presence of relatives; under no circumstances should they be left alone, so as not to discredit the girl’s honor. If the young people like each other, then the ceremony of matchmaking or bride ransom takes place. Parents of young people begin discussing material issues, for example:

Does the groom have an apartment, what kind and where? (The parents usually buy an apartment for the groom. In villages, people simply add another floor for the newlyweds to their house.) Very often, a man has to collect money for several years to get married.

If there is no apartment, then when does he intend to buy it? (In middle-income families, it is not customary for young people to live with their parents, therefore, the engagement can last for years while the groom’s family saves for housing. Sometimes poor families agree for the young to live in a rented apartment for some time).

What size of the “cap” (ransom) does the groom intend to give for the bride? (The agreed amount is given to the bride to buy gold, which will guarantee her financial security in case of divorce - the groom will not pay off the groom with any rams or camels.)

What dowry does the bride have? (Traditionally, the bride’s family takes upon itself the purchase of furniture and everything necessary for the new apartment).

If the parents manage to agree, then the official engagement date is announced. If they fail, they look for a new candidate for their child.

The Egyptian betrothal ceremony proceeds as follows. A young man comes to his bride with a wedding gift called a “markh”. As a rule, these are jewelry. An Egyptian bride is given four (!!!) wedding rings at once, as well as necklaces and bracelets. The more expensive the jewelry, the richer the groom, therefore, they usually do not skimp on such jewelry. In addition, the young man must also have a furnished home, and the bride brings furniture, household appliances for the kitchen and textiles to the house.

After the engagement, young people are allowed to meet: go to a cafe, cinema or just walk along the streets, most often, STRICTLY under the supervision of the relatives of the bride or groom, or they must describe the route of the walk in detail so that at any time one of the relatives can find them. All this is done so that no one can disgrace the girl’s honor or doubt her piety. Of course, before marriage, young people do not have any intimate relationships or kisses, often there cannot even be any touching. Here they don’t know what flirting is, no one walks the streets holding hands, you won’t see couples kissing anywhere. Everything here is very strict and tough, centuries-old traditions are observed. If a girl’s reputation is damaged, then a terrible stain falls on the family, her existence becomes unbearable. A young husband who discovers that his wife is not a virgin will drive her away in shame. (In the past, a girl’s father and brothers could drag her into the desert and cut her throat. And an unfaithful wife would be stoned or drowned, along with her lover. Nowadays, of course, such customs have become obsolete, although they are sometimes practiced in areas far from civilization Egyptian villages).

Nowadays, many city girls allow themselves a little more. They can have a young man, live separately from their parents, visit entertainment venues and lead a completely European lifestyle, with one big BUT: all their adventures must be strictly classified, otherwise it will be very difficult, almost impossible, for them to get married. Therefore, as soon as a suitable groom turns up, the Egyptian woman goes straight to undergo hymenoplasty (surgical restoration of the hymen - an extremely popular procedure in Egypt) and prepares for the wedding ceremony. Neither her future husband, nor her relatives, and especially her parents, should find out what the young Egyptian woman did before marriage, otherwise it would be a shame for the whole family.

After the engagement, some time must pass, after which the wedding will take place. But, if it still doesn’t come to the wedding, the bride is obliged to return all his gifts to the groom.

After the engagement, the Egyptian woman, accompanied by her relatives, goes to a jewelry store and uses the entire amount of the bride price to buy herself gold jewelry. She will either store them in a box for a rainy day, or wear them on herself. Many Egyptian women walk the streets, hung with gold bracelets, chains and rings.

After this, the bride's family needs to purchase furniture for the groom's apartment. You have to buy a lot: a dining room set, bedroom furniture, a living room set and children's furniture. The paradox in this situation is that many brides choose furniture without having any idea about the size and layout of the future apartment, and nothing good comes of it. All these purchases cost the bride's family a pretty penny. Therefore, from the very birth of their daughter, mothers and grandmothers begin to collect a dowry for her in the form of table sets, fabrics for bed linen and curtains, various household appliances and other things necessary for everyday life.
Before the wedding, it is customary that the bride often visits the hammam with all her relatives. Here she gets sugar hair removal all over her body and gets very beautiful henna tattoos on her arms and legs.

The Egyptians call a wedding “zeffa”. Urgent, sudden, secret or “scheduled” weddings, theoretically, cannot happen here. On the wedding day, the bride dresses in a traditional white fluffy wedding dress, which, as a rule, from the neckline to the hem is embroidered with beads, beads, ribbons, feathers and other sparkles and other cute things that only catch the eye of the dressmaker. By the way, for many Egyptian Muslim women, a wedding is the only day when she can afford to be without a headscarf and expose her arms and cleavage. The groom, dressed in a suit, picks up the bride from home or meets her at the mosque where they hold their nikah. “Nikah” is held in large mosques and special halls at the mosque, which can accommodate up to 500 or more people at a time. If the wedding is “economy” and no more than 100 people, then the marriage ceremony is performed in any mosque closest to the house. After this, the newlyweds and accompanying guests go to the photo salon, where they pose in the studio for about an hour. Then, the wedding feast begins.

The place of the feast that the parents of the young people rented, of course, depends on their wealth and ambitions. Before the celebration begins, the bride and groom are seated on special chairs on a small elevation and surrounded by lighted branches or bunches of grass. During the dances, the chairs with the newlyweds are often lifted into the arms of the merry guests, and then it becomes even more fun. As a rule, men and women dance separately. Specially prepared theatrical performances, which are performed by the hosts and guests, are very popular at wedding feasts. In general, a real Egyptian wedding consists of women in beautiful oriental dresses, loud music, a bride in a traditional white dress, a groom and friends in festive costumes, delicious treats, sweets, and not a gram of alcohol.

An interesting tradition at many Egyptian weddings is that the newlyweds must dance the shemodan, otherwise they will not be considered spouses. Shemodan is a very interesting and difficult dance; it is danced with a candelabra on the head. At the first sounds of the shemodan, those invited must surround a pre-built throne with armfuls of flowers and light ritual candles. Only the newlyweds and the girl are allowed into the circle, who demonstrates the movements of the shemodan, puts a candelabra on the bride’s head, and for half an hour the bride must dance a belly dance to the screams of the guests, while the groom insures the bride from falling.

An Egyptian wedding table always includes lamb with rice, topped with a special fermented milk sauce. They also prepare a special ritual pilaf “mak-lyube” for weddings. A very popular traditional Egyptian wedding soup is made with a variety of seasonings, including mint, paprika, cinnamon and cloves. This soup has the ability to heighten the senses of the newlyweds and contribute to the rapid addition of offspring. In addition, “bintas-sahn” are always present at weddings - these are sweets that are dough filled with butter and honey.

It is worth noting that wedding guests do not give anything to the newlyweds. There are simply no envelopes with money, boxes with small household appliances or bags with towels and toys at Egyptian weddings. The bride's parents buy all this for the girl long before her marriage.

I must say that It was the ancient Egyptians who came up with such a legalized form of relations between a man and a woman as marriage. And it was they who came up with and disseminated such a concept as a “nuptial agreement”, which clearly indicates the rights and responsibilities of the husband and wife and their share in joint property. And today, on the wedding day, the bride and groom often sign a marriage contract, which includes the amount of muahrah - this is the money paid to the bride in the event of a divorce. Previously, marriages between brothers and sisters, even cousins, were also welcomed in Egypt, but this tradition is practically not practiced these days.

By the way, the tradition of exchanging rings appeared more than 6 thousand years ago in Egypt . From Egypt this custom spread to other countries. The ring is a symbol of stability, unchanging and eternal love. In Egypt, it is believed that a vein runs through the middle finger of the left hand to the heart. Therefore, rings are placed on the middle finger of the left hand.

After the banquet, the newlyweds go to their new apartment and begin their life together. In some places in Egyptian villages there is a custom when, after the first wedding night, the sheets from the newlyweds’ bed are shown to everyone to confirm the bride’s innocence. In large cities, this tradition has not been practiced for a long time.

According to Muslim traditions, a man can marry several girls, both immediately and after a while. But then you will have to ask the first wife’s permission, but this is just for the sake of decency. An Egyptian man can have four wives, but in real life, marriage with multiple wives or harems is very rare in Egypt, since a very small percentage of the population is able to support many wives and children.

But the Egyptian is not obliged to support his mistress, therefore, they often start several parallel relationships with an Orphi contract, without committing themselves to anything. An Orphia contract is a marriage contract between two persons that does not require official certification. It gives the right to live together between a man and a woman. This form of engagement is secret and may be subject to public censure. Orphi marriage is temporary and can be dissolved at any time - this is the best option for Egyptians to lead an intimate life, without any obligations. At the same time, a man can secretly have several marriages. At any time, you can simply tear up the form of the concluded document and get away with it. In addition, before marriage, Egyptian men often visit prostitutes. But girls need to maintain their virginity until marriage.

Egyptian women are not allowed to marry men of other nationalities or religions (even Copts), while Egyptians are allowed to marry women of any nationality. This is due, first of all, to the fact that Egyptians do not have a surname as such, but add the father’s name to their name, and this happens only through the male line. Therefore, to preserve the family line, an Egyptian woman cannot marry men of other nationalities.

Egyptian Bedouins

The mysterious Bedouin people have long roamed the desert lands of Egypt. There are two large Bedouin clans living on the Red Sea coast: Al-Abbadi and Al-Maazi. To this day, in Egypt you can hear legends about fierce clashes between two tribes over water sources, which ended with the Great Meeting of the elders of both clans, at which the Word of Peace was pronounced. Bedouins never resort to resolving controversial issues with the help of the authorities, relying only on their elders. Bedouins try to avoid contact with modern society and live in the desert, far from cities, they do not visit hospitals and schools, and old people teach children to read the Koran. Women do only housework, while men hunt in the evenings and sit in the shade under awnings during the day.

Among the Egyptian Bedouins, matchmaking is quite interesting. The groom turns to the leader of the tribe and points to the girl he likes, speaking about his intentions. The girl is asked to make tea for everyone gathered. If the girl brings sweet tea to the young man, then she has given consent; if not, he should leave. Therefore, for the groom, the first sip of the served drink is very exciting. If, to the delight of the groom, the tea turns out to be sweet, then we talk about the bride price. This is where a very interesting moment begins - the future bride is valued like a horse for sale. The bride's relatives, wanting to get more bride price, extol her virtues, the groom's relatives, wanting to save money, look for flaws, for example: unhealthy teeth, weak hair, pimply skin, poor figure, etc. The Bedouin wedding itself takes place with ritual dances and a magnificent feast.

Egyptian family

For Egyptians, family is one of the most important values ​​in life. Egyptians perceive their family as a single whole that they must protect. Men feel responsible for their entire family, for the behavior of their parents, siblings and cousins, and other relatives. And the behavior of the wife is especially important, since the wife is the face of the husband.

Members of a large Egyptian family have common goals - they all manage the household together, work together, and solve all issues and problems together. But here there is an invisible, unique code of honor - “asabiya”, which strengthens social ties and regulates the responsibilities of family members. “Asabiya” requires an Egyptian man to protect his clan from threats and blood feuds of hostile families, and also imposes on the man the obligation to take revenge on those who offended his family. Every year, dozens of Egyptians lose their lives due to blood feuds and revenge for an offended relative. However, with the help of the unshakable law of blood feud, a lot of murders and crimes are prevented. For the most part, blood feud takes place in the villages of Egypt, but even in megacities it often remains a real threat.

The first “violin” in an Egyptian family, of course, is the man. A man should be free in his desires and actions, and a woman has no right to demand or control anything from him. Perhaps this is why almost all Egyptian marriages are very strong, because it is not customary for a woman to meddle in her husband’s affairs. Her job is “go, give, bring, put away.” And that's it!.

A wife cannot have male friends, period! No man (even the husband's friends) can come into the house if the husband is not at home at that time. This is not the case in Egypt. If a woman comes to visit her friend (and usually these are the wives of her husband’s friends), then she does not stay with her if her friend’s husband returns home. If the husband does not like his wife’s friend(s), then he can prohibit his wife from communicating with them without explaining the reasons. And the wife must obey.

In general, it is not customary to stay late as a guest here, just as it is not customary to abuse hospitality. Guests are never received in home clothes. Yes, and by the way, it is also not customary to feed guests in Egypt. Usually guests are offered only tea or coffee and sweets. A wife never serves her husband's friends - any self-respecting Arab will simply never allow his wife to do this. He himself will do everything that is needed.

Many families live in the same house for generations. Such traditions are especially typical for small towns and villages. A young wife must obey her mother-in-law; from the beloved daughter of her parents, she turns, at first, into a humiliated creature. A young woman who does not express respect for her mother-in-law is unlikely to find understanding with her husband. In the capital, more and more often, small families are separated from their parents and live separately.

Basically, Egyptian women are lazy, sit at home, cook food, watch TV all day or communicate with relatives who come to visit them.

The main thing with which a woman strengthens her position and who she relies on in a large family is her children, or rather, her sons. The more of them, the more influence she has, the more respect she has. Having children is the meaning of life and the meaning of marriage. Egyptian families usually have many children. Until now, Egyptians are more happy about the birth of boys than girls.

In the Egyptian mentality there is no strong emphasis on the development of children. Women do not devote all their time to children, do not read books with them, do not play games - children often do not have books and toys, especially educational ones. It is not customary to walk with children during the day, and there are no specially equipped parks or playgrounds on the streets. Very often, children do not have any kind of daily routine at all - they go to bed almost always after midnight or even in the morning. The educational process on the part of the mother and father is often completely absent, and comes down to the child simply knowing some postulates from the Koran and prayers.

Boys under 7 years of age grow up among women. At this age, as a rule, they undergo a ritual circumcision ceremony, which is considered the first step towards their inclusion in the society of adult men. Circumcision was known back in Pharaonic Egypt and among the ancient Jews. Circumcision is practiced in Egypt and Copts before the baptism of children.

In cities, children are circumcised by a doctor, in villages by a barber. He comes two days before the operation to cut the boy’s hair in a special way. The boy is washed, his palms and feet are painted with henna, and before the haircut, guests come and stick small coins on his face, which the barber takes for himself. Often, on the eve of surgery, a boy spends part of the day with peers and adults in the mosque.
Then the boy is dressed smartly, in loose women's clothes (!!!) - so that the child is not jinxed, then they put him on a horse or mule and, accompanied by friends, noisily ride him around the village. If circumcision is performed on two people at once (reduces costs), then two boys are mounted on a horse or mule. In the evening, the boy's parents throw a big feast and the guests present the boy with gifts. After circumcision, boys are taught to work and are taken to Friday prayers.

Education in Egypt is not doing well. Egyptian children attend free schools (for Egyptians only), where there are often 50 or more students in one class. From the age of 11, girls study separately from boys. After school, children often engage in begging or simply wandering the streets aimlessly.

Egyptians turn only to relatives for advice and help. The connections between relatives are very close, and the patronage of the entire family over each of them remains unchanged. Family supports financially, family improves life, family helps in difficult times. It is not customary to discuss family problems with outsiders; everything remains in the family; it is not customary to tell anyone anything. No matter what happens, be patient, and do not defame your loved one.

Egyptians do not hesitate to discuss the most intimate details in front of children, and women express themselves even more openly on this topic than men. This is a kind of instinctive folk form of their sex education.

Divorce in Egypt is rare, and this is associated with significant material costs. Having said the word “talaq” (translated as “divorce”) three times in the presence of witnesses, the Egyptian breaks off the marriage. If you say the word “talaq” once, you can still return to each other. If you say “talaq” twice, the same. But after the third time, you won’t be able to return to your ex-wife. She will have to marry another man, after which that man will also have to say “talaq” (that is, divorce) three times. Then comes the period of iddah (waiting period), which lasts three periods of monthly purifications. Shariah requires compliance with iddah to ascertain whether a divorced wife is pregnant or not. If a woman suddenly becomes pregnant, she stays in her ex-husband’s house until the birth, since the child belongs to the father. Only after iddah (or childbirth) can a woman be reunited with her first husband and live together again. These are Egyptian traditions - and this is a kind of punishment for rash actions. If, nevertheless, the divorce is final, the woman leaves the house with what she is wearing, which is why Muslim women are always hung with gold.

The husband can dissolve the marriage at any time and for any reason. But a woman has the right to demand a court ruling on divorce if, for example, he did not pay the dowry agreed upon in the marriage contract or did not provide funds for her maintenance. Divorce in a family must be formalized. Although the woman can file for divorce first if:

The husband does not provide financially for the family;

If the husband has sexual impotence;

If the husband has left and has not communicated with his family for more than 4 months;

In case of mental disorder in the husband.

The wife must prove these facts in court by bringing several witnesses. After a divorce, an Egyptian must support both his ex-wife and child, providing them with housing until the child turns 7-9 years old. After this, the child is raised by the father, and the wife leaves home. A woman, as a rule, belongs to another clan or tribe, and the children belong to the father and inherit from him. For the woman's relatives, children are considered strangers.A widowed or divorced man can remarry, but it is difficult for a widow or divorced woman to remarry.

Egyptian women

It's not easy for women in Egypt. Women are given a secondary place here. Her life is directly connected with numerous “don’ts” and “under no circumstances.” An Egyptian woman, first of all, is a stronghold of home comfort; family and children are her destiny. The key to her happiness is a good husband, a loving and true Muslim. A woman should always say “YES” to her husband.

Women in Egypt are deprived of all social activity. Studying is not important for a woman; only school education is considered compulsory. An Egyptian woman can get the opportunity to study with the permission of her parents or husband. But it is unlikely to work. In some towns and villages, a woman working outside the home is considered a great disgrace to the family: it means that her father or husband does not have enough money to provide for the family. Women usually spend all their time at home with their children. This is where they pray, since they cannot go to the mosque with men, unless the mosque has a separate prayer hall with a separate entrance from the street, in other words, a woman is not allowed to enter the mosque through the same door as a man.

If the husband allows, the woman will be able to devote her free time to hobbies, and go to the mosque with him on holidays. But wherever she appears, she is obliged to wear a hijab, because the hijab is considered a symbol of female modesty. He rarely takes it off even at home. Unless she is alone or with her relatives. Some deeply religious women, instead of a hijab, wear a niqab or burqa and a head veil, also black, covering their face. The blanket only has slits for the eyes. On his hands are black gloves made of thin material.

Egyptian men are very jealous. They cannot stand it when strangers (and even non-strangers) men look at their woman. So a woman dresses up at home for her husband, and goes out even without makeup, like a gray mouse. And Allah forbid, if anyone looks at her, she will still remain guilty. And if the husband decides that it is better for his wife not to go out at all, so as not to disturb his wounded soul, then the Egyptian woman will humbly sit at home.

Egyptians have an opinion that if a girl is ugly or simply scary on the street, then at home she is very beautiful. Therefore, every self-respecting Egyptian tries to “disfigure” his wife’s appearance. They put clothes on the girls, under the hijab, which makes the figure fat and shapeless, they put thick lush eyebrows on their faces, they tighten their chests with bandages, and this is only a small part of the tricks that jealous Egyptian men go to.

Egyptian women do not make friends with men, they do not even talk to them on the street, even if one of them just needs to know the way. Under no circumstances should you approach or touch a man (even an acquaintance). Nowhere except on university campuses is it encouraged for unmarried men and unmarried women to interact.

A woman should not appear on the street alone. She can only go outside if accompanied by her husband or relatives. When talking with any man, relative, friend or colleague, a woman should not look him straight in the eyes or smile - this is not perceived as a sign of politeness, but as a woman’s promiscuity and availability.

On the street, Egyptian women are not allowed to look in the mirror, adjust their makeup, or touch their hair to check their hairstyle. This characterizes them as women of easy virtue.

A woman who is alone at home should not allow strangers into her apartment. Even if there is a breakdown, a leak in the house, the electricity goes out, or something else happens, the woman will have to wait for her husband to return, or one of her relatives should be with her in the apartment, then she can call a repairman. When the master comes to the house, the front door must remain open, and the woman must go into another room and remain there until the master finishes his work. Everything is done to ensure that no one sees someone else’s wife.

Honoring her husband is the main activity for an Egyptian woman. If she hasn’t washed the floors or cooked the food, it means she neglects her husband and doesn’t respect him. It is not customary here to reproach a husband for poor provision for the family - a man cannot forgive such an accusation, even if it is true, because with these words the wife declares the man’s lack of masculinity. As a rule, such a “bad” wife is kicked out of the house forever and irrevocably, and her future fate is bitter and unenviable. She is considered a woman who disgraced her family. Often her relatives also turn away from such a woman.

But, strict requirements for women do not mean that Egyptians treat them badly. A Muslim man also has a hard time; it is he who has many responsibilities that must be fulfilled if he is a true believer.

Egyptian men

Due to the fact that Egyptian girls are raised in extremely strict Muslim traditions, and behind a black hijab it is impossible to see not only their figures, but their faces, half-naked European women vacationing at resorts represent for local men all facets of sexual feelings and emotions. Egyptian men have romance and a lifelong state of falling in love in their blood. Almost the entire population of resort towns has affairs with tourists. The very atmosphere of any resort is predisposed to romance and tritely suggests thoughts of sex, and it is impossible to have a non-burdensome affair with an Egyptian girl for the sake of sexual relations, due to the religious views of both men and women of Egypt. Therefore, the favorite targets of Egyptian men are resort girls.

Egyptians, like no one else, know how to speak and listen with their eyes, creating an atmosphere of languor and charm around women. And northern women’s souls melt under the admiring glances of the Egyptians. After just a few days of staying in Egypt, even the most “frozen” woman blossoms like a flower under the summer sun. Any white woman in Egypt feels great because she is looked upon here as a goddess. Regardless of age, a 20-year-old or a 70-year-old white woman can be called out on the street and shout “Helva!” ("Gorgeous!").

Egyptian macho men throw so many ardent glances at unmarried resort girls. If an Egyptian has spotted you, it will not be easy to get rid of him. Any weapon is used - passionate speeches, passionate hugs, a sea of ​​compliments, promises of love to the grave, pity, in the end. The Egyptian will try everything that can be applied on his “victim”. And the abundance of resort girls, replacing each other every two weeks, allows them to hone their skills for years. Every day planes arrive with tourists from northern countries, where men are stingy with compliments. And in Egypt they give compliments and promise eternal love under the palm trees, and as you know, women love with their ears... It rarely comes to true love, more often it is limited to a holiday romance and a pleasant pastime. In addition, the Egyptian macho most likely has a wife and children outside the hotel.

Egyptians consider the behavior of Western women to be quite free and a woman’s excessive friendliness and openness can be interpreted incorrectly. European ladies often willingly extend their hand to Egyptian men at the moment of acquaintance, for example, and then become indignant that the Egyptians are so arrogant. The thing is that in Egypt it is customary that if a woman allows herself to be touched, even by the hand, then everything else can be touched too. European women here are considered easily accessible; for example, an accepted invitation to a disco or a cafe will definitely be regarded as an agreement to share the night with him. Simply offering a woman sex in Egypt is akin to an insult. Therefore, literally from the very moment they meet, ladies hear the standard set of phrases: “you are the most beautiful,” “I have never loved anyone before you,” “marry me.” The importunity of local men quickly becomes boring.

Egyptians look at a foreign woman not only as a sex object, but also as a cute wallet. After all, it’s so nice, in addition to positive emotions and sex, to receive from an enthusiastic young lady a mobile phone of the latest model, which the Egyptian himself would have saved for several months. There are known cases of rich tourists being scammed out of money, who even bought an apartment for their Egyptian boyfriend, and some wealthy ladies opened a business in the name of their macho man. How pleasant it will be for him later to drive a new car to where his Egyptian wife and children live and show off photographs, for example, of his own restaurant. And such cases are far from uncommon.

Still, women on holiday in Egypt should behave more carefully and not wear too revealing clothes, especially if they are traveling alone. According to Muslim laws, it is believed that if a woman is uncovered and some parts of her body are exposed, especially her stomach, it means she is easily accessible. You can often see Egyptians shouting something in Arabic at the “naked” tourists passing by on the streets of the city. In fact, if the tourists realized that they were shouting after them, they would have heard that these were very offensive words.

Egyptians love children very much. And, if not for state control, they would have had significantly more children. They cannot pass by someone else’s child indifferently - they will definitely pat him on the cheek, tickle him, or treat him to candy and will definitely ask him what his name is and how old he is. Egypt is like a big kindergarten, children here don’t hear the word “no”, they can do anything here. Children are served food and drinks first.

For Egyptians, it is considered shameful to wash or dust off your car. People around him will consider such a man incompetent or will think that he is the driver of the car owner. Therefore, many Egyptians, even if their car is slightly dirty, tend to go straight to the car wash.

Religion of Egypt

Religion is the main woman of the Egyptian man. Friday is a day off for all Muslims. Until Egyptians perform Friday prayers, no cafes or shops will be open. In general, it is better not to disturb Egyptians on Fridays. Friday is a holy day and this day was created for prayers.

Ramadan is a holy month for Muslims around the world, a month of great abstinence. This is equivalent to Lent, only in a more strict form. In the month of Ramadan, night becomes day. Egyptians fast all day and break their fast only after sunset. At this time, public life comes to a standstill; government institutions are open only from 10.00 to 14.00. During this holy month, it is forbidden to eat anything from sunrise to sunset. Egyptians can only eat after the sun has set. On the table you can see both traditional dishes and sweets that are prepared only for the holidays. After evening prayer, everyone gathers at the table with food in a narrow family circle, or invite relatives and spend time talking and eating until sunrise. At the end of Ramadan, a period called Aid el-Adha begins, during which even more delicious dishes are prepared and sheep are always slaughtered. An important point is to smear the walls of the house with the blood of sacrificial rams; it is believed that this will protect the house and the people living in it from evil spirits (and again the omnipresent Egyptian superstition). During Aid el-Adha, everyone should buy themselves something new to wear. If the family does not have income, then clothes are bought only for children.

Of course, it is better to avoid visiting Egypt on this holiest holiday for Muslims. And, nevertheless, if you unknowingly came to rest in Egypt during Ramadan, do not consume any food or drinks (especially alcohol) on the streets of cities and resorts (outside hotels). Failure to comply with this rule may result in detention by the police for disrespect for laws and traditions. In general, you should abstain from alcoholic drinks outside hotels, and not only during the month of Ramadan. There is prohibition in Egypt. And for appearing drunk in a public place, you can easily be detained by the police (by the way, they are very corrupt in Egypt, so the fines will be impressive).

Married to an Egyptian

Egyptians are a southern and hot-tempered people, and therefore they love women very much. Since Egyptian resorts have long been chosen by the beautiful half of humanity from Russia and the CIS countries, today marriage with an Egyptian no longer seems something fantastic and unrealistic. As a rule, relationships between two people begin on vacation, and Egyptian holiday romances extremely rarely end with the woman’s departure. Passionate SMS, declarations of love fly thousands of kilometers away, and now you are being invited to get married. You leave everything and everyone behind and fly to the land of pyramids on the wings of love!

If you have fallen into the web of Arab love and are thinking about connecting your life with an Egyptian man and moving to live in Egypt, it will be very useful for you to know some of the features of life with a man in Egypt.
First of all, when you move in with your lover, be sure to draw up an Orphie contract. This paper is signed by a lawyer in the presence of two male witnesses, is not registered anywhere, and, in fact, does not impose any obligations. Without this document, you cannot even hold hands on the street, let alone visit your loved one in his apartment. If the documents are checked, if there is no Orphi contract, the case for the Egyptian could end in big problems with the police.

The Orfi contract can be legalized in court, after which the newlyweds receive an A3 paper in Arabic, which states that from now on they are officially husband and wife. The process of legalizing an Orphi contract takes 1 - 3 months, depending on the workload of the court. But it is worth remembering that even a legalized Orphi contract is not accepted as evidence of marriage on the territory of other states. In order for a marriage to become legal, it is also necessary to enter into it either on the territory of the state of which the wife is a subject, or to contact the embassy or consulate of your country in Egypt.

When entering into a marriage, a prenuptial agreement is often concluded, although in the event of a divorce, controversial issues (children, property) are resolved solely on the basis of Egyptian law and the marriage contract will become invalid if it conflicts with the law. It makes sense to include in the contract compensation for the wife in the event of a divorce. Financial issues should be monitored very carefully, since an Egyptian can easily have more than one wife.

Even if your lover does not pray 5 times a day and does not observe Ramadan, this does not mean that he does not care about religion. All Egyptians are deeply religious people. He will periodically tell you about religion, dreaming in his heart that one day you will, after all, accept his faith, he will begin to insist on changing your wardrobe, or at least demand to cover your arms, knees and chest, then he will begin to demand that you wore a scarf on your head, and then you will have to quit your job and become a housewife.

Be prepared that your chosen one will have a lot of relatives: brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, and, of course, the most sacred thing - mom and dad. He will call all of them several times a day and consult on any issues, and if he doesn’t call, then they themselves will be happy to meddle in your life with their advice, and often come to visit you with the whole large family. In addition, a decent part of your family budget will go into the pocket of the “family”, because according to Egyptian customs, sons are obliged to financially support not only their parents, but also their unmarried sisters.

Mom and dad are sacred to an Egyptian. Mom’s word is generally the law, so if his parents don’t like you, there won’t be a wedding! And if you nevertheless put a ring on your finger, then you will still have to honor his mother more than your own.

Be prepared that no matter where you go, all your movements will be reported to your Egyptian husband. If you offended someone, behaved incorrectly, did something wrong, no one will say anything to your face - they will simply call your man and complain. Egyptians generally do not say what they think to their faces, especially women. They will smile sweetly in your face, and discuss you behind your back and spit in your direction.

Most often, having married an Egyptian, a European woman, in order to fit into the surrounding society, under pressure from her husband, is forced to change religion by converting to Islam. However, a change of religion does not equate her in rights and status with a native Egyptian woman, who is protected by the law of the country and Sharia in any case. Europeans live here at their own peril and risk, without any support from Egyptian legislation.

If your chosen one is an Egyptian Christian, then you shouldn’t relax either. Christians in Egypt are even more religious than Muslims. They also observe all fasts and traditions. In addition, in Egypt divorce is prohibited for Christians, so it is very difficult to marry them, because it is certainly for life!

If you plan to throw in your lot with an Egyptian and stay to live in Egypt, you, in any case, will have to reconsider your views on life, accept their rules of behavior in society, change your value system and worldview. And remember: the Egyptian will constantly try to make you an Egyptian woman, subject to all the traditions and dogmas of Egyptian society.

Tours to Egypt – special offers of the day

Ancient Egypt had a lot of interesting things. Still, people who lived in ancient times are fundamentally different from the inhabitants of our planet today. They had very interesting customs and beliefs, which you will now learn about!

Wearing your hair on your head was the lot of the poor

According to the Bible, the third Egyptian plague, there were 10 in total, was an invasion of blood-sucking insects. We, of course, do not know whether this really happened, but we are sure that one of the biggest problems in the life of a prehistoric Egyptian was lice. To get rid of harmful insects, people had to shave their heads; no one was an exception to this procedure; both women and men did this, and even children whose hair was shaved regularly under 12 years of age. People who did not have enough money went bald, but the rich could afford to buy themselves a wig. Sometimes the hair on the wig was even braided.

The ancient Egyptians had very unique methods of contraception.

One of the most heated debates among historians is still the debate about whether condoms were used in ancient times. Probably, the oldest condoms appeared about 12-15 thousand years ago, but there is no reliable data. As you know, in Ancient Egypt people preferred to have few children, so various methods of contraception were practiced there; basically, of course, it was a woman’s job to control her pregnancy. Men thought of dipping their reproductive organs in onion juice or resin as contraception, while women used honey or ointments they prepared themselves.

No less strange were the ways to determine a woman’s ability to have children.

The methods used to determine women's ability to have children were very barbaric. It even got to such nonsense as anointing a woman with oil and forcing her to lie there all day, and if she looked good the next morning, then she could become a mother. Also, ancient doctors had the opinion that every hole of a woman is connected directly, so One way to understand whether a woman can get pregnant is no less interesting. At night, a small head of onion or a clove of garlic was inserted into a woman’s vagina, and if in the morning the woman’s breath smelled of one or another plant, then the woman could give birth to a child.

Beautiful women were not buried immediately to avoid necrophilia

In Ancient times, Necrophilia was not something new, therefore, when a beautiful woman died, she was given to the embalmers 3-4 days after her death so that they could not copulate with her. Usually, the corpse was given for embalming as soon as the person died

Pharaohs were overweight

Most often, artists depicted pharaohs as slender and muscular men, but excavations say completely the opposite. Some pharaohs who were found during excavations were, to put it mildly, in the body. This most likely happened because feasts were held in the royal court almost every day, as many written sources report. The ancient Egyptians certainly knew how to organize feasts; for them, a standard feast consisted of at least buckets of wine, many pies and kilograms of meat, so it should not be surprising that during excavations the Egyptians were found to have bulging bellies, clogged arteries and folds of fat. By the way, speaking of obesity, already in 1500 BC the Egyptians wrote a treatise on the dangers of obesity..

Proctologists in Ancient Egypt were called “shepherds of the anus”

There were many doctors in Ancient Egypt who have survived to this day. dentists, ophthalmologists, and, of course, proctologists, whose only job was to prepare solutions for enemas, but they received the proud name: “shepherds of the anus.” Enemas were simply necessary at that time, as the pharaohs cleaned their stomachs after overeating for three days every month.

Cosmetics were used by both men and women, and mainly for medical purposes

In Ancient Egypt, not only women, but also men painted their eyes in the form of arrows. It was believed that antimony, green or black, not only made the eyes expressive, but also protected the eyes from infectious diseases and premature aging.

The ancient Egyptians were not only not shy about nudity, but also tried in every possible way to show off their bodies in public

The presence of a certain type of clothing indicated social status and level of material well-being in Ancient Egypt. Thus, before adolescence, children of all genders did not bother wearing clothes and shoes. But even adult Egyptians loved to go naked, as many of them were proud of their bodies, so they looked for various reasons to show it off.

Sandals were the only important, but not favorite attribute of clothing among the Egyptians

Despite the fact that the ancient Egyptians loved to walk around naked, they treated shoes with special trepidation. At that time, people wore sandals, which were made of leather for the pharaohs and nobles, and of reed for the common people. The pharaohs had a special person whom they called the sandal bearer. In general, sandals were one of the few things that were necessary for the pharaoh in the afterlife. Also, for the ancient Egyptians it was like death to enter a house wearing shoes, and they also loved to walk barefoot.

Egypt is considered a traditional holiday destination for millions of Russians every year. That is why almost all guests of this country are interested in the culture, history and traditions of Egypt.

It turns out that in Egypt, in addition to the magnificent, endless sandy beaches, you can find many interesting sights, and also get acquainted with the traditions and customs of this eastern country.

Religious traditions in Egypt

There are a huge number of traditions that have developed over the years, almost all of them are related to religion. It can be noted that Egyptians are extremely religious people. Most of the Egyptian population are Muslims, although there are those who profess other religions, including Christians.

Despite their religiosity, Egyptians are extremely tolerant of people of other faiths. For example, you can easily purchase alcohol, although Islam prohibits it, and also, for example, try a pork dish in Egyptian restaurants, although this meat is prohibited among Muslims.

When it comes to traditions and customs within Muslim society, the people of Egypt are extremely conservative. Thus, one of the strictest rules is that women must leave the house accompanied by someone, as well as in closed clothes, often even in a burqa, when only one eye is visible. More often, of course, women can be seen in a hijab - this is a scarf that covers the head. This tradition not only represents the religiosity of Muslim women, but was also a traditional dress for peasant women to protect their faces from dust and sun.

The traditions of Egypt also include the regime by which Muslims live; they strictly follow the prayer schedule, which happens 5 times a day. And during the holiday of Ramadan, Egyptians do not eat or drink during the day, but only after sunset. All public life and activity simply freezes during this period.

Egyptian customs in public life

A foreigner who comes to this country should carefully prepare and learn some rules regarding life in Egypt. Everyone knows that Egyptians are patriots of their country, if you suddenly speak impartially about the country in the presence of a resident of Egypt, then you can run into a lot of trouble.

Everyone knows that the peoples of the East love to bargain. Official bargaining is not accepted in Egypt. This can only be done in markets where prices are significantly inflated in advance. In shopping centers they are fixed. For Egyptians, bargaining is a kind of entertainment during the working day.

Egyptian customs also include clothing. Many local residents prefer to wear national clothes, especially for residents of rural areas, although residents of large cities also do not neglect this. Men prefer to wear loose-fitting cotton shirts in light colors. Women can often be seen in dark and even black outfits.

For Egyptians, family is the most important thing in life. Egyptian traditions are closely connected not only with religion, but also with family. It has long been a tradition in Egypt that families lived together, often even for several generations. Today, families are increasingly separated from each other, but at the same time they maintain warm friendly relations and celebrate holidays and other memorable dates together.

Customs that relate to lifestyle depend on which layer of society certain Egyptian families belong to. Educated, wealthy Egyptians increasingly speak French or English, dress in European style and have corresponding hobbies. Simpler local residents, as before, wear traditional national clothes and communicate in their native language.

Despite the visible differences between different strata of society , all Egyptians are extremely superstitious, they believe in various omens, are afraid of the evil eye, envy, and often carry various talismans and amulets with them. Having visited the house of the Egyptians, you can see a huge number of different amulets, which are located from the entrance to the house and ending with each individual room. By the way, when asked, you can safely answer – amulets and talismans, for example, a “cat’s eye” pendant.

Due to the fact that the Egyptians are so superstitious, it is not customary here to openly praise an Egyptian or anything belonging to him. A phrase, for example, “what a beautiful child you have” will not only be inappropriate, but even tactless, because the Egyptians are afraid of the evil eye.

Marriage customs in Egypt

Marriage in Muslim countries is treated with great care and great responsibility. Even today in the modern world, the parents of the bride and groom make an agreement that their children should get married long before their marriageable age, and sometimes even at birth. Of course, today in the modern world not every family observes these traditions; young people are violating them more and more often.

It is accepted that A Muslim can only marry a Muslim woman If suddenly, due to some circumstances, he chooses a bride of a different faith, then before the wedding she must convert to Islam. In Islam, a man can have 4 wives, but each one must have equal conditions.

The divorce process is very simple, just repeat the phrase “I’m getting a divorce” 3 times in front of witnesses. By the way, in Muslim countries it is very difficult for a divorced woman. She is considered an unworthy woman; it is unlikely that anyone will ever marry her again. And the most difficult thing is that the children remain in the father’s family.

Traditions in Egypt are very multifaceted; they reflect the entire identity of this eastern country. Every tourist, before he decides to go to Egypt, should carefully study the traditions and customs of this country in order to avoid trouble. Most often, local residents are extremely tolerant of foreigners, but some actions can greatly offend Egyptians. Although for us such actions are often in the order of things. We wish you a pleasant stay and many bright, unforgettable impressions!