Unlike the other parts of the world , Christmas is not a public season in Egypt, and is a holiday only for the Christians. Nonetheless the Christmas spirit is felt in the Churches and the homes of the Egyptian Christians.
The Egyptian Church is a Coptic orthodox church and celebrates Christmas on the 7th of December.
Advent is observed for forty days and during this period people are expected to fast eating no meat, poultry or dairy products.
The midnight prayer is held in the Church and ends with the ringing of the bells. After the prayer, families gather at home to have a grand meal known as fata. It consists of rice, bread, garlic, boil meat and soup. Generally, people in Egypt and the Middle East visit friends and relatives on the Christmas morning. They take with them Kaik - a kind of shortbread-on these visits. They have the Kaik with a kind of drink known as the shortbat. For more details, log on to
Christmas Carnivals.
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