Does Egypt celebrate Christmas like the rest of the world? Yes, but on its own calendar. Most Egyptians keep Orthodox Christmas on January 7, with a midnight mass, a family feast and a decorated tree. Here is what it looks like, from gifts to the Egyptian Santa.
Does Egypt Celebrate Christmas on January 7?
Yes, with prayers, a midnight mass and a family meal. Egypt’s Coptic Orthodox Christians keep Christmas on January 7. Christmas Eve prayers begin at 6pm on January 6 and end with the midnight mass, according to Gulf News.
| Moment | What happens |
|---|---|
| January 6, evening | Prayers, then the midnight mass |
| After the mass | A light family dinner |
| January 7 | Christmas Day feast, gifts and visits |
| January 19 | Trees come down on Epiphany |
Orthodox Christmas lands on the same date for several other churches, including the Russian and Ethiopian ones. January 7 is also a paid public holiday, which is why the day feels so family-centered.
The long fast before it has its own story. Read it in our Christmas in Egypt guide.
What Do Egyptian Families Eat After Midnight Mass?
The meal is light at first, then festive. Christmas Eve dinner usually brings fatta, boiled eggs and cheese. Fatta is bread, rice and meat served with soup.
Christmas Day is richer. Think roast chicken and macaroni in béchamel sauce, plus kahk, the buttery Egyptian biscuits that are always on the table. It is a quiet feast, not a loud one. It follows a long fast, so the food tastes especially rich.
Is There an Egyptian Santa Claus?
Yes. He is called Baba Noel. The Egyptian Santa visits churches on Christmas morning to hand out gifts to children, as Gulf News reports. It is the Egyptian Santa Claus most children actually meet, and the Egypt Santa Claus story is a church story first, not a shopping one.
Christmas gifts in Egypt are gentle and family-based. Children wear new clothes. Elders give Eidiyah, a little money. Presents wait under the tree until after the midnight mass and dinner.
Want to see how this feels in person? Join us in early January and we will plan around the services. Browse our tours and packages.
Which Christmas Decorations Appear in Egyptian Homes?
Mostly a family tree and a warm living room. Families decorate a tree at home, and many keep it up until Epiphany on January 19. Christmas decorations Egypt-wide are therefore a January sight, not only a December one. Christmas decorations in Egypt also look simple: a tree, lights and a few small ornaments, rather than a street-long display.
Tourist hotels and cruise boats often add their own lights and trees for guests, so Egyptian Christmas decorations can look festive twice. Our guide to Cairo at Christmas shows where the city glows brightest.
Where Does the Egyptian Nativity Story Live On?
In Old Cairo and along the Holy Family Trail. Coptic tradition says Mary, Joseph and the infant Jesus sheltered in Egypt. That is why many Egyptians see the Egyptian nativity as part of their own story.
The Holy Family Trail links 25 sites across eight governorates, roughly 3,220 km in all, so the story stretches far beyond Cairo.
Start at the Hanging Church in Cairo, then follow the route in our Egypt Holy Land tour guide. It is the most meaningful place to be near Christmas.
What Does an Egyptian Xmas Feel Like for Visitors?
Warm, sunny and split in two. An Egyptian xmas for travelers usually means a December 24 and 25 gala at a hotel or on a Nile boat, then, if your dates allow, a visit to Old Cairo around January 7. Both are easy to enjoy, because the weather is dry and mild and the sights stay open.
If you land on Christmas Eve, a Nile boat is the most festive choice. Our guide to Christmas Eve on a Nile cruise explains what the evening includes. If you arrive in early January, plan your first morning in Coptic Cairo and keep the rest slow.
On the day itself, families visit one another, children show off new clothes and tables fill with kahk. Visitors are welcome to watch and to share a greeting, as long as they stay respectful during services.
How Does Egypt Compare With Christmas Around the World?
It swaps the shopping rush for a long fast and a short feast. Christmas traditions around the world often center on the tree, the market or the snow. Egypt centers on church, family and food. Both share the tree, the gifts and the sense of homecoming.
If you plan to visit, you can enjoy both: a hotel gala on December 24 and 25, and the Coptic Christmas on January 7.
Field tip: dress modestly if you visit a church, and ask your guide before taking photos. In Arabic, Merry Christmas is “Eid Milad Majid”. A friendly greeting goes a long way, and a warm “Merry Christmas from Egypt” always lands well. Merry Christmas Egypt style is simply “Eid Milad Majid”.
Curious About Egyptian Christmas Customs?
How do you say merry christmas in Egypt?
Say “Eid Milad Majid” in Arabic. Copts will smile if you add the date, January 7.
Do Egyptian children get Christmas gifts?
Yes. They receive gifts, new clothes and Eidiyah money from elders. Santa, called Baba Noel, also visits churches on Christmas morning.
Is January 7 a public holiday in Egypt?
Yes. It is a paid holiday for Christmas, which is why families gather and many offices close.
When do Egyptian families take down their Christmas trees?
Usually on Epiphany, January 19, about two weeks after Christmas Day.
Two Christmases, One Warm Welcome
Egypt gives you a December gala and a January feast. Both are warm, and both are easier with a local plan. Share your dates and we will shape your Christmas from our Christmas vacation packages.
