Christmas in Egypt

By James Stone


In a bid to avoid the Christmas chaos and have a break from the gloomy winter weather, we decided to enjoy a non-traditional Christmas in Egypt.

Holidays and tours to Egypt are relatively cheap at the moment and we were able to organise a holiday in Luxor for very little, staying at a very luxurious hotel. We opted for Luxor, built 4,000 years ago on the site of ancient Thebes over 4,000 years, because it is quieter than Cairo and offers access to some of the country's best historical sites.

The hotel has a swimming pool and, with temperatures in Egypt remaining around 20C during the winter months, we spent some of out time relaxing here in the hot, dry weather. Because we chose to visit Egypt in December we managed to find sun, but could sightsee without the stifling summer heat.

I had been wanting to visit Egypt since I read about it as a child and the rich archaeological heritage did not disappoint. On the morning after we arrived we headed straight for the Valley of the Kings, burial site of many of the pharaohs, and wandered around the painted tombs soaking up the atmosphere of Ancient Egypt.

Many of the towering pillars of vast Temple of Karnak, just a short journey away from Luxor, are still in place and we were awed by the size, beauty and engineering of the structure. We also went back one evening for the informative, entertaining and slightly cheesy sound and light show.

On Christmas Day itself, we opted to take a cruise along the Nile to explore the temples of Cleopatra and Hatshepsut. Travelling along the river at a leisurely pace, stopping at breathtaking ruin with an excellent guide, was the perfect, relaxing way to spend the day.

Back at the hotel, we enjoyed a Christmas cocktail in the hotel bar and a delicious meal of fresh Egyptian food in the comfortable restaurant.

With only a week in Egypt, it was a struggle to fit in all the eating, drinking, relaxing, shopping and sightseeing we wanted to do, but we managed to make it to the Valley of the Queens and the tomb of Nefertiti, explore the bustling town and take a romantic and scenic balloon flight over the Nile.

Egypt is a great place to go shopping and the shops, bazaars and markets sell a range of colourful and ornate goods, including papyrus paintings, jewellery, alabaster ornaments, rich fabrics and gold items. We returned laden with gifts for friends and family to make up for our Christmas Day absence.

Christmas in Egypt is officially celebrated by the main Orthodox church on December 7th rather than the 25th and the Egyptian advent lasts for forty days. Christians are expected to wear new clothes to a church service on Christmas Eve and return home after midnight for a big festive dinner. On Christmas Day, Egyptian Christians visit friends and neighbours, bringing traditional shortbread with them.

For committed Christians, there are a number of religious sites dotted around the country, including those relating to the Holy Family, St Mark and the tombs of Moses and Aaron on Mount Sinai.

Egypt is the ideal place to seek sanctuary from a hectic Christmas season and, because it is not a Christian country, is relatively free of festive decorations and crowds. For those who want to avoid the season and are tired of dark nights, rain and cold weather, this was the perfect antidote.