Egypt has a rich history and culture dating back thousands of years, starting with the Pharaonic culture, then Christianity. Our guide to Egyptian culture and customs will help you navigate all the fascinating aspects of Egypt and fit right in with the locals on your next trip.
From food to dress, there are a number of customs and traditions that are unique to Egypt. For example, those who want wealth and prosperity to come to their house, then bury a weasel at the doorstep. Some Egyptians believe that burying a weasel will bring good luck. Another interesting custom is that when they are excited, Egyptians use hand gestures.
In general, they speak softly, although they may also shout or pound the table. This is not considered rude behavior in Egypt. One main distinction between traditional, usually rural, and urban middle-class eating habits concerns the seating and service of food. In villages, people sit on the floor to eat whereas in cities people sit at a table. Another difference is that in rural areas
The ancient Egyptian calendar
The ancient Egyptian calendar was a solar calendar with a 365-day year. The year consisted of three seasons, each with its own festivals and celebrations. The first season was the season of Inundation,
when the Nile would flood and bring new life to the land. The second season was the Season of Growing, when crops would be planted and harvested. The third season was the Season of Shemu, when the heat would subside and people would enjoy cooler weather.
Ancient Egyptian clothing
The ancient Egyptians were a fashionable people, and their clothing reflected their status and position in society. Wealthy men wore knee-length shirts, loincloths or kilts and adorned themselves with jewellery – a string of beads, armlets and bracelets. Women in ancient Egypt wore straight, full-length dresses with one or two straps on the shoulder.
Unlike the modern Western world, women's clothing in Ancient Egypt was not designed to be revealing. The Ancient Egyptians wore clothing made from linen. Linen is a light and cool fabric that worked well in the hot climate of Egypt. The Egyptians made use of a variety of colors in their clothing, and they often adorned their clothes with precious gems and jewels.
Ancient Egyptian tomb painting and writing reveal a variety of clothing depending on status and activity. There are wrap-around garments for both men and women, as well as more specialized clothing for priests, soldiers, athletes and servants. Egyptian clothes were quite simple in style, but they
Ancient Egyptian cuisine
Bread was an essential food commodity in many ritual and funeral traditions in Ancient Egypt. Hundreds of loaves of bread were found in tombs and temples, which reflected the importance of bread in Ancient Egyptian society. Lamb and beef were also frequently seen in Ancient Egyptian dishes, as well as other meats such as chicken and squab.
The staples of the Egyptian diet consisted of Ful (a type of bean), Taameya (an Egyptian Falafel), and Aish (which means both 'bread' and 'life' in Egyptian Arabic). Food in Ancient Egyptian reflected the bounty of Egypt's agricultural society. While Egyptians today import a large amount of their food, the ancient Egyptians were largely self-sufficient thanks to their fertile farmland.
Ancient Egyptian dance
Although ancient Egyptian dances are not as well known as other dances from around the world, they are still an important part of the culture and history of Egypt. Dance was highly valued in ancient Egyptian culture and was used for both religious and social purposes.
Royalty often employed dancers to entertain them, and temples would sometimes host dance performances in honor of the gods. Even though public dancing was not considered proper for well-bred Egyptians, it was still a very popular pastime. Ancient Egyptian dancers typically wore diaphanous robes and belt girdles made from cowrie shells or beads.
The movements of ancient Egyptian dancers were often very graceful and elegant. From paintings and etchings on tomb walls to clay figures with their hands held above their heads, it is clear that dance was a beloved pastime in ancient Egyptian society.
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