FestivalsFestivalsin Egyptin Egypt

Sham el nessimSham el nessim Sham el nessim is an Egyptian national Sham el nessim is an Egyptian national

holiday marking the beginning of springholiday marking the beginning of spring . .

The holiday is celebrated by Egyptians The holiday is celebrated by Egyptians regardless of religionregardless of religion . .

The name of the holiday is derived from the The name of the holiday is derived from the Egyptian name of the Harvest Season, known Egyptian name of the Harvest Season, known as Shemu, which means a day of creation, the as Shemu, which means a day of creation, the Ancient Egyptians used to offer salted fish, Ancient Egyptians used to offer salted fish, lettuce, and onions to their deities on this daylettuce, and onions to their deities on this day.

The modern Sham elnisim is celebrated by The modern Sham elnisim is celebrated by both Christians and Muslims, so it is both Christians and Muslims, so it is considered a national festival, rather than a considered a national festival, rather than a religious one. religious one. The main features of the festival are:-The main features of the festival are:-

*People spend all day out picnicking in any *People spend all day out picnicking in any space of green, public gardens, on the Nile, or space of green, public gardens, on the Nile, or at the zoo .at the zoo .*Traditional food eaten on this day consists *Traditional food eaten on this day consists mainly of (a salted Grey Mullet), lettuce, mainly of (a salted Grey Mullet), lettuce, scallions or green onions, and colored boiled scallions or green onions, and colored boiled

eggseggs. .

Eid al-AdhaEid al-AdhaEid al-Adha also called Feast of the Sacrifice, Eid al-Adha also called Feast of the Sacrifice, the Major Festival, the Greater Eid, is the the Major Festival, the Greater Eid, is the second of two religious holidays celebrated second of two religious holidays celebrated by Muslims worldwide each year. It honors by Muslims worldwide each year. It honors the willingness of the prophet Ibrahim to the willingness of the prophet Ibrahim to sacrifice his young first-born son Ismail a as sacrifice his young first-born son Ismail a as an act of submission to Allah's command and an act of submission to Allah's command and his son's acceptance to being sacrificed, his son's acceptance to being sacrificed, before Allah intervened to provide Abraham before Allah intervened to provide Abraham with a Lamb to sacrifice instead. In the lunar with a Lamb to sacrifice instead. In the lunar Islamic calendar, Eid al-Adha falls on the 10th Islamic calendar, Eid al-Adha falls on the 10th

day of Dhu al-Hijjah and lasts for four daysday of Dhu al-Hijjah and lasts for four days..

Eid al-Adha is the latter of the two Eid holidays, the Eid al-Adha is the latter of the two Eid holidays, the former being Eid al-Fitr. The basis for the Eid al-former being Eid al-Fitr. The basis for the Eid al-

Adha comes from the 196th verse of the 2nd sura of Adha comes from the 196th verse of the 2nd sura of the Quran. The word "Eid" appears once in the 5th the Quran. The word "Eid" appears once in the 5th

sura of the Quran, with the meaning "solemn sura of the Quran, with the meaning "solemn festival".festival".

Like Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha begins with a Sunnah Like Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha begins with a Sunnah prayer of two rakats followed by a sermon (khuṭbah). prayer of two rakats followed by a sermon (khuṭbah).

Eid al-Adha celebrations start after the descent of Eid al-Adha celebrations start after the descent of the Hajj from Mount Arafat, a hill east of Mecca. the Hajj from Mount Arafat, a hill east of Mecca.

Ritual observance of the holiday lasts until sunset of Ritual observance of the holiday lasts until sunset of the 12th day of Dhu al-Hijjah. Eid sacrifice may take the 12th day of Dhu al-Hijjah. Eid sacrifice may take place until sunset on the 13th day of Dhu al-Hijjah. place until sunset on the 13th day of Dhu al-Hijjah. The days of Eid have been singled out in the Hadith The days of Eid have been singled out in the Hadith

as "days of remembranceas "days of remembrance."."

Eid al-FitrEid al-FitrEid al-Fitr also called Feast of Breaking the Fast, the Sugar Eid al-Fitr also called Feast of Breaking the Fast, the Sugar Feast, the Sweet Festival and the Lesser Eid, is an Feast, the Sweet Festival and the Lesser Eid, is an important religious holiday celebrated by Muslims important religious holiday celebrated by Muslims worldwide that marks the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy worldwide that marks the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting (sawm). The religious Eid is a single day month of fasting (sawm). The religious Eid is a single day and Muslims are not permitted to fast on that day. The and Muslims are not permitted to fast on that day. The holiday celebrates the conclusion of the 29 or 30 days of holiday celebrates the conclusion of the 29 or 30 days of dawn-to-sunset fasting during the entire month of dawn-to-sunset fasting during the entire month of Ramadan. The day of Eid, therefore, falls on the first day of Ramadan. The day of Eid, therefore, falls on the first day of the month of Shawwal. This is a day when Muslims around the month of Shawwal. This is a day when Muslims around the world show a common goal of unity. The date for the the world show a common goal of unity. The date for the start of any lunar Hijri month varies based on the start of any lunar Hijri month varies based on the observation of new moon by local religious authorities, so observation of new moon by local religious authorities, so the exact day of celebration varies by locality. However in the exact day of celebration varies by locality. However in most countries, it is generally celebrated on the same day most countries, it is generally celebrated on the same day as Saudi Arabiaas Saudi Arabia..

Eid al-Fitr has a particular Salat (Islamic Eid al-Fitr has a particular Salat (Islamic prayer) consisting of two Rakats (units) prayer) consisting of two Rakats (units) and generally offered in an open field or and generally offered in an open field or large hall. It may be performed only in large hall. It may be performed only in congregation and, has an additional congregation and, has an additional

extra six Takbirs (raising of the hands to extra six Takbirs (raising of the hands to the ears while saying "Allāhu Akbar", the ears while saying "Allāhu Akbar",

literally "God is greatest"), three of them literally "God is greatest"), three of them in the beginning of the first raka'ah and in the beginning of the first raka'ah and three of them just before Ruku' in the three of them just before Ruku' in the

second raka'ah in the Hanafi school of second raka'ah in the Hanafi school of

Sunni IslamSunni Islam. .

Other Sunni schools usually have twelve Other Sunni schools usually have twelve Takbirs, seven in the first, and five at the Takbirs, seven in the first, and five at the

beginning of the second raka'ah. This beginning of the second raka'ah. This Eid al-Fitr salat is, depending on which Eid al-Fitr salat is, depending on which

juristic opinion is followed .juristic opinion is followed .Muslims believe that they are Muslims believe that they are

commanded by God, as mentioned in the commanded by God, as mentioned in the Quran, to continue their fast until the last Quran, to continue their fast until the last day of Ramadan and pay the Zakat and day of Ramadan and pay the Zakat and

fitra before offering the Eid prayersfitra before offering the Eid prayers..

Eid al-Fitr is a three-day feast and an Eid al-Fitr is a three-day feast and an official holiday in Egypt with vacations official holiday in Egypt with vacations

for schools, universities and government for schools, universities and government offices. Some stores and restaurants are offices. Some stores and restaurants are

also closed during Eid.also closed during Eid.The Eid day starts with a small snack The Eid day starts with a small snack

followed by Eid prayers in congregation followed by Eid prayers in congregation attended by men, women and children in attended by men, women and children in which the sermon reminds Egyptians of which the sermon reminds Egyptians of the virtues and good deeds they should the virtues and good deeds they should do unto others, even strangers, during do unto others, even strangers, during

Eid and throughout the yearEid and throughout the year..

Afterwards, neighbors, friends and relatives Afterwards, neighbors, friends and relatives start greeting one another. The most common start greeting one another. The most common

greeting is "Eid Mubarak" (Blessed Eid). greeting is "Eid Mubarak" (Blessed Eid). Family visits are considered a must on the Family visits are considered a must on the

first day of the Eid, so they have the other two first day of the Eid, so they have the other two days to enjoy by going to parks, cinemas, days to enjoy by going to parks, cinemas,

theatres or the beaches.theatres or the beaches.Egyptians like to celebrate with others so the Egyptians like to celebrate with others so the streets are always crowded during the days streets are always crowded during the days

and nights of Eidand nights of Eid..

Children are normally given new clothes to Children are normally given new clothes to wear throughout the Eid. Also, women wear throughout the Eid. Also, women

(particularly mothers, wives, sisters and (particularly mothers, wives, sisters and daughters) are commonly given special gifts daughters) are commonly given special gifts

by their loved ones. It is customary for by their loved ones. It is customary for children to also receive a Eid-ey-yah from children to also receive a Eid-ey-yah from their adult relatives. This is a small sum of their adult relatives. This is a small sum of

money that the children receive and is used to money that the children receive and is used to spend on all their activities throughout the spend on all their activities throughout the

Eid. Children will wear their new clothes and Eid. Children will wear their new clothes and go out to amusement parks, gardens or public go out to amusement parks, gardens or public courtyards based on how much their Eidyah courtyards based on how much their Eidyah

affordsaffords..

Student work in Class: 1\3Edited by Student: Mayar khaled Mohammed.school: Alaqbat prep school.Under the supervision of:Mrs. Shaima.