Sham El-Nessim

Timing

Sham El-Nessim falls on the day after Easter, so it is always a Monday. It has been celebrated for thousands of years and is considered one of the oldest local festivals in Egypt and one of the oldest known in the world. Its name comes from the harvest season of the ancient Egyptian calendar, “Shemu”, and it usually marks the start of spring.

Celebrations

Ancient Egyptians marked the occasion by offering food to their gods of fertility and welfare. The offerings included salted fish, onions and lettuce, and Egyptian families still eat these traditional dishes today. Colouring eggs is another custom of the festival; ancient Egyptians are believed to have been the first to do it.

How it is celebrated

Sham El-Nessim is a holiday for everyone in Egypt, Muslim and Christian alike, and it is all about being outside. Families leave home early to spend the day in public parks, gardens, on the Nile banks or by the sea, bringing food and drinks with them.

The traditional menu is salted and smoked fish, especially feseekh (salted grey mullet) and renga (smoked herring), served with spring onions, lettuce and bread. Coloured eggs are a must for children, and many families decorate them together the night before.

Boats on the Nile, public gardens and seaside promenades in Alexandria and other coastal towns are packed by midday.

The date follows Coptic Orthodox Easter, which is why it moves from year to year. In 2027 it falls on Monday 3 May.

What is open and closed

Government offices, banks and schools close for the day. Shops, restaurants and cafes are usually open, and most archaeological sites and museums usually keep their normal hours. If you need a bank or any official paperwork, sort it out a day or two before.

Parks and riverside areas are very crowded, so if you want a quiet visit to a museum or archaeological site, go early. You will also notice the strong smell of feseekh in some neighbourhoods.