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Food

Lunch is the main meal of the day. They eat at least three meals a day: breakfast, lunch, and dinner.  Most families eat at home and as a family around a table.  At times, they will eat out at restaurants.  They enjoy inexpensive dishes such as koshari (a pasta, lentil, and rice dish served with a spicy tomato sauce), or hawawshi (a minced meat pita sandwich), and falafel (fried chickpea patties).

Egyptians prepare elaborate and expensive meals when they have guests. Leaving food on a plate is a sign of wealth and a compliment to the cook for providing so well. In restaurants, food is left as a sign of wealth (indicating one can afford to leave food behind). Egyptians eat finger foods and use utensils when needed.

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Holidays

They celebrate most National holidays such as the Lunar New Year, Labor Day, and Anniversary of the Revolution.  Religious holidays are popular in this country. Ramadan:  During the month of Ramadan, most Muslims go without food or drink from sunrise to sundown and eat only in the early morning and evening. They pray more and have special services and television programs.   Other Muslim Holidays:  Eid al-Fitr is a three-day feast held at the end of Ramadan. Eid al-Adha is a feast of the Sacrifice made by Abraham.  Eid al-Adha takes place on the 10th day of Dhul-Hijjah (the month of the hajj, or pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia). Many Muslims choose to donate money to the poor.  It is a custom to buy dolls for young girls and nut-based sweet treats on this day.  Christian Holidays:  Coptic Christians celebrate Christmas on January 7th.  Easter is when Copts attend Mass. They do not eat any animal products in the weeks before Easter, Christmas, and other holidays.  A non-religious holiday such as Sham al-Nessim ("breathing the breeze"), which marks the beginning of spring and is often enjoyed outside at parks or by the river.
Revolution DayRamadanChristmas

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Personal Appearance or Dress

Most men in rural areas wear beards and mustaches.  A head covering such as a turban called an emma is worn.  They wear a loose fitting robe called a galabiya.  Many women wear different hijab which is a type of head covering.  In some cases the face and hands are covered along with the head.  When visiting a mosque they must remove their shoes and the entire body must be covered with clothing.  When dressing for business environments, men wear suits and women wear dresses.

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Language

Arabic is the most spoken language in this country. It is a language that can be used worldwide because of the popular music and films that are shared in other countries.  They enjoy riddles, jokes, and wordplay when interacting with one another.

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Religion

The most popular religion in this country is Islamic.  The Egyptians follow the Islamic principles to guide them in law, business, and social relationships.  It is threaded strongly throughout the daily routine of how one dresses and eat. They are called Muslims and are expected to pray at least five times a day.  The men gather for prayer on Fridays in the mosque and women pray at home or a separate place in the mosque.  The second popular religion is Christianity.  It makes up ten percent of the population.  They worship on Sundays.  They do not have influence over the government and daily rituals of the people such as the Islamic religion.

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The Arts

Music, dance, literature (oral and written), film, television, and traditional crafts are highly developed.  Popular singers are Umm Kalthum and Abd al-Halim Hafiz. Young people enjoy pop and shaabi, meaning "popular" in Arabic which is a blend of Western and Arabic music. Belly dancing is popular and is typically done at weddings and other events.  They enjoy literature and crafts such as carpet weaving, calligraphy, metalwork, glasswork, and woodwork.  Egypt is a major producer of Arabic-language films and television shows.

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Gender Roles

Traditionally, a man's honor is based on how well he protects the women in his care. Egyptian women face many social challenges in the public and private spheres, such as sexual harassment, domestic abuse, and gender inequality.  Today, many are the primary providers for their families. In the workplace, women hold several high positions in the Egyptian government.

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Education

Most children complete primary school. Most Egyptians attend public schools, which are often overcrowded.  Slightly more boys are enrolled in school than girls. Arabic is the language used for instruction in schools. English is also a part of the national curriculum. The curriculum is based on memorization, exams, and strict discipline. Students prepare for months before the exams, and families often hire private tutors. Higher education is important.  Students are more interested in attending universities than vocational schools.

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Dating and Marriage

Dating is considered socially unacceptable among most Egyptians. Public displays of affection are frowned upon, even for married couples.  A Muslim engagement begins with the couple declaring that they intend to marry.  The time leading up to the wedding is when they get to know one another. During this time, the young man will present gold jewelry. It is common for engagements to be called off.  Coptic Christians, engagements begin with the couple wearing rings to indicate their engagement.  It is common for cousins to marry. Purity is valued in a woman for marriage. Polygamous marriages are recognized by Egyptian law, and men can have up to four wives , in keeping with Islamic tradition. Same-sex marriage is not legal, and homosexuality is largely rejected in Egypt's conservative society. Muslim weddings are done in the bride’s home.  Coptic weddings are in a church.  Divorce is common in Egypt.  Men have the right to verbally divorce their spouse without going to court, as outlined in Islam. For Coptic men and women divorce is not so easy to do.

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Government

In 2014, Egypt adopted a new constitution and established a semi-presidential system. Egypt's president is head of state. The prime minister is head of government. The president serves four years with a two-term limit and appoints the prime minister. The military strongly influences Egypt’s political system. The constitution bans parties based on religion.  Many Egyptians feel that the government should provide subsidized health care, improve the quality of education, control food prices, and address the youth unemployment crisis (over one-third of youth are unemployed).  Minority groups like Coptic Christians and women argue that their rights are not fully protected, and women face discrimination.

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Family

Urban families have an average of two to three children, while families in rural areas may have as many as five children.  Extended families are not uncommon to the Egyptian culture.  Parents are responsible for taking care of the basic needs of their children.  The children are expected to do small chores around the home.  Parents often play a key role in planning the future of their children.  Picking a spouse or profession are often the role of parents.  Young men and women are to remain in the home until married.  Children (especially the oldest son) are expected to support their parents in old age.Coptic Christian Family

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General attitude

Egyptians tend to be a relaxed and an unhurried lifestyle. Patience influences life, as the people view events in an expanded time frame.

Egyptians are often expressive and known for their sense of humor. Community groups are more important than personal interests.  Generosity is the way most Egyptians interact with one another.  Schools, government, and the arts are devoted to the Islamic principles.