Christmas(Hari Natal) di 🇪🇬 Mesir

Christmas in Egypt is celebrated by the Coptic Christian community, which makes up roughly ten percent of the population. Coptic Christmas falls on January 7, following the ancient Julian calendar, though December 25 is also a public holiday. The celebration reflects one of the oldest Christian traditions in the world.

In the weeks leading up to Christmas, Coptic Christians observe the Advent Fast, a 43-day vegan fast during which no meat, dairy, or animal products are consumed. The fast is broken on Christmas Eve after the midnight liturgy, which takes place in Egypt's ancient churches and cathedrals. The Cathedral of the Nativity in Egypt's New Administrative Capital and the historic Hanging Church in Old Cairo hold particularly significant services.

The post-fast feast features fatta, a celebratory dish of rice, bread, and meat in garlic and vinegar broth, along with roasted lamb or beef. Kahk, round butter cookies dusted with powdered sugar and filled with dates, nuts, or Turkish delight, are the quintessential Egyptian Christmas sweet. Families exchange visits and share trays of kahk with neighbors, including Muslim neighbors, in a gesture of communal goodwill.

Egypt's Muslim majority also participates in the festive spirit, and it is common for Muslims to wish their Christian neighbors a happy Christmas. The Egyptian government hosts a national Christmas celebration, and the occasion is seen as an expression of national unity.

Christian holiday celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ, observed on December 25 worldwide with gift-giving, festive meals, church services, and diverse cultural traditions.