EGYPTIAN CULTURE

THE FLAG

• Abstract tricolor
• Black = the past of oppression
• Red = sacrifice
• White = the future
• The falcon = a sense of Arab unity (several other Arab countries have the same colors)

HORUS

• The symbol of Egypt Air (national airline) is Horus
• Horus- a figure from ancient Egyptian religion
• Represented as a falcon

THE PYRAMIDS OF GIZA

• The treasures, art, and hieroglyphics expose how they lived long ago
• Believe the pyramids had a spiritual/astronomical significance (lay like the constellation Orion)
• Inside were tombs containing a well preserved mummy

SOCIAL CLASS

• Like us, there are 3 social classes
• Upper class, Middle class, and Low class
• Unlike us, social class is based on their family background, not their wealth
• Little social mobility

LANGUAGE

• Egyptian Arabic
• Also called "Egyptian colloquial language"
• Standard Arabic - the official language

RELIGIONS

• Islam- mainly Muslim in Egypt
• An important Christian minority
• The remaining is Judaism

RAMADAN

• Egyptian Muslims fast during Ramadan and are only allowed to work for 6 hours/day.
• Though Christians are not required to fast during Ramadan, they cannot eat, drink, smoke or chew gum in public.
• Tourists/guests are expected to remove their shoes before entering any religious building.

FAMILY VALUES

• Family = significant unit of Egyptian society
• Kinship (blood relationship) = important role
• Nepotism is viewed positively
• Family consists of both the nuclear and the extended family.

RESPECT

DINING AT HOME

• In villages, they sit on a carpet
• The food is placed on a low round wooden table
• Everyone has a spoon, and they eat directly from the service dish.

GREETING CUSTOMS

• It is based on the person's class & religion
• Handshakes, customary greeting for the same sex, are not firm, but are always given with a smile & eye contact
• Greeting between men and women: first, the woman must extend her hand. If she does not, a man should bow his head in greeting.
• When a relationship developed, they kiss on one cheek and then the other while shaking hands (men with men and women with women)

WOMEN TREATED IN EGYPT

• Women are expected to be conservative and modest
• Unknown men never approach an Egyptian women, so concerns should be addressed to other men

WOMEN DRESS ETIQUETTE

• Women wear a head scarf, which symbolizes modesty
• Expected to cover their arms and legs, especially in religious arenas

MARRIAGE

• A woman can choose her marriage partner. Others are involved, like matchmakers
• The man may be limited on his choice of marriage partner
• Partner trend = to be more like one another in age and level of education
• Marriage to cousins remains frequent (about 39% of marriages)

WEDDINGS

• The bride is completely covered in tent-like layers, as she rides on a camel
• The start of the wedding celebrations is marked by the drinking of Sharpat (a jewel colored rose-water juice)

FUNERALS

• The body must be buried within three days to avoid embalming the body.
• Before the burial, the body is first washed and then wrapped in a kafan (a clean, white cloth)
• Muslim funerals are usually held in a Mosque
• The body is buried on its right side facing Mecca, usually without a tombstone or other grave marker
• After the funeral, there is a 40 day mourning period and the friends/family gather in prayer

HOLIDAYS

• Sinai Liberation Day (April 25) which marks the recovery of the Sinai Peninsula in 1982
• International Labor Day (May 1)
• 23 July - commemorates the revolution of 1952
• Armed Forces Day (October 6)