Religion

Islam is the official religion of Egypt and the vast majority of Egyptians are Muslim, mostly Sunni. Their religion is not just something they practice, it is something they live. Most of the culture and local customs derive from this majority religion.

Other religious practices are permitted in Egypt. Most of the non-Muslim population are Coptic Christian, but there are also catholics, protestants, jews and other minorities. There are Catholic and Coptic churches in the centre of Luxor.

Language

Arabic is the official and main language. English and French are both widely spoken, especially in Luxor itself (and other tourist areas). Most Luxor people who are directly involved with tourists, including stallholders in the market, speak many European languages and some have a smattering of Japanese as well.

Holidays and Festivals

Most festivals are based on the Islamic year, the Hejira, which is about 11 days shorter than the western calendar. Consequently, the festivals that are based on the time of year are celebrated 11 days earlier (relative to the western calendar) than the previous year. There is more about the Islamic calendar on the webexhibits.org web site.

Ramadan

Ramadan is probably the best known of the celebrations. Ramadan commemorates the revelation of the Quran to Mohammed and is celebrated for the whole of the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. The most noticeable feature of Ramadan is that faithful Moslems do not let anything pass between their lips or into any other part of their bodies between sunrise and sunset for the whole month. That includes not only water and food but also anything else. At sunset there are often group meals in the street when the faithful wait to hear confirmation from the local mosque that the sun has set and then take their first food and drink ('Iftar') since before sunrise.

Tourists are not expected to observe Ramadan, but out of respect it is best not to be too blatant about eating or drinking in public places during that month.

During Ramadan timetables may be adjusted to allow more time for prayer and reflection. Together with the fasting of the faithful, this can affect normal local lifestyles and can reduce restaurant and bar facilities. For this reason some people avoid going to Islamic countries during Ramadan.

At the end of the month of Ramadan (Eid al-Fitr) there is a feast and a great deal of partying.

Ras as-Sana

This is the celebration of the new Islamic year. Expect a little carnival with parades, drumming, decorations and special sweets.

Moulid an-Nabi

Celebration of the birthday of the Prophet Mohammed in the third month of the Islamic year. The celebrations include parades, lights, feasts, drumming and special sweets.

Eid al-Adha

This is the time of the pilgrimage to Mecca. Each Muslim is expected to make the pilgrimage (hajj) at least once in a lifetime. Streets are decorated with coloured lights.

Mahmal is performed in each village as people who are going on their pilgrimage pass by and are given carpets and shrouds to take with them.

Moulid of Abu el-Haggag

This festival honours Yussef Abu el-Haggag (pronounced Hajjaj), who was born in Damascus in the mid12th century, moved to Mecca but settled in Luxor where he is honoured as the city's patron Sheikh.

His two-day street festival is held every year, two weeks before the beginning of Ramadan. Expect to see horse races, dancing and stick-fights to the music of drums and an oboe-like instrument. Giant floats, like carnival floats, are paraded through the busy streets with a boat, in the style of the Pharonic solar barque processions.

Coptic New Year

The Coptic New Year actually starts on the 29th August, or 30th August in the year before a 'western' leap year. However, the celebration falls on the 11th September, or 12th September in a leap year.

Timetable of important dates

In Egypt, as in most of the Islamic world, the dates of holy festivals depend on the actual sighting of the new moon. The appearance of the new moon can be predicted astrologically, but an actual sighting will depend on a number of conditions, including the weather and exactly where on earth it is being viewed from.

The dates of religious festivals in the table are the western dates on which the events should occur in Luxor, based on astrological predictions. The actual dates will depend on circumstances at the time, so may be out by a day or two. The day actually begins at sunset the previous evening.

Dates in blue are public holidays