Eid Al-Adha in Egypt: Celebrations amid exams, summer breaks at the coast

Children play with balloons after Eid Al-Adha prayer inside Al-Azhar Mosque in Cairo, Egypt, in 2021. (Reuters/File)

• The distinct customs and traditions of Egyptians further add flavor to the Eid festivities
• These serve as refreshing retreats, providing relief from the seasonal heat

CAIRO: The Eid Al-Adha festival in Egypt has unique hues of celebration.
This is not just down to the holiday’s inherent joyous spirit, but also due to its timing which coincides with the start of the general secondary examinations and the onset of the summer season.
The distinct customs and traditions of Egyptians further add flavor to the Eid festivities.
Many Egyptian families choose to kick-start the sweltering summer by heading to coastal locations.
These serve as refreshing retreats, providing relief from the seasonal heat.
However, for families not involved in general secondary exams, celebrations center around the urban parks.
Popular spots such as the city zoo, metropolitan museums, and malls draw significant footfall in Cairo during the brief holiday.
Sayed Najeh, a high-school student, said: “These days I’m immersed in studying my physics lessons.
“My whole house is on edge, especially after the grueling chemistry exam that took a toll on many students, myself included.”
Najeh hopes that the Egyptian Ministry of Education will heed pleas and refrain from scheduling other exams as challenging as chemistry during the Eid Al-Adha holiday.
While Najeh spends his vacation preparing for his upcoming physics exam, Farah Shakib, a private university student, is relishing time off at the coast.
She said: “The exam system is different for us. Our university is on vacation now ... so we’re spending time on the northern coast.”
She added that although conventional Eid customs like prayers and sheep sacrifices are absent at the coast, the evenings bring a different vibe.
She is eagerly anticipating attending a concert by the artist Hakim on the second day of Eid.
But not all Egyptians are students like Najeh or Shakib.
Mohammed Al-Arabi, an architect residing in Cairo, usually divides his Eid Al-Adha holiday between his immediate and extended family.
He said: “The Egyptian government has granted us a five-day leave, which is ample for visiting relatives and enjoying the festival among them.
“My typical Eid is spent at home and in parks, as per my children’s wishes.”
Al-Arabi detailed his Eid plans, which involve visiting his family on the first day and spending the next two days enjoying outdoor activities with his children.
These activities include trips to the zoo, malls, and the cinema, where they plan to watch the comedy-action film “The Boogeyman.”
Another day will be devoted to exploring museums and the pyramids before getting back into the post-holiday work routine.
In contrast, Jamila Fayek, a 60-year-old housewife, prefers to spend her holiday at home.
She told Arab News: “I always make sure to attend the Eid prayer at Al-Azhar Mosque. Then, on the first day of the holiday, our children and grandchildren come over.
“My joy stems from watching my grandchildren have fun and play in our house.”