Unique Egyptian traditions

Hospitality

What you will notice from the start about people in Egypt is that they are naturally friendly to other people, and they are even going to invite tourists into their homes. That alone is one of the Egyptian traditions that will impress you since you rarely get to see people that are so welcoming and inviting in the first place. They will also give you directions and help when you are stuck or can’t reach a specific destination, which is something to consider in a situation like this.

Holding the wood

There are times when people want to talk about their achievements and the great things they did until this point. Others will tell them to hold the wood when they want to do that. What does this mean? As far as we know, this is a way to prevent envy, and it stands out with its unique appeal and interesting ideas. You will also notice that people will say this occasionally, but they won’t repeat it too much. This is why it’s something to keep in mind. Sometimes bragging too much might not be the best thing to focus on, so it’s something to think about.

Avoid stepping on cut hair

Egyptian traditions are fun, but some are just plain weird. This one is something to keep in mind. It would help if you didn’t step on cut hair on the floor because the hair will start falling for that person, and it will not grow back. It might not seem that much, but many women in Egypt love their hair, and they think this is true. So they will immediately remove any cut hair from the floor to avoid this happening. So if you see this happening, it has to do with this unique tradition.

The turned slipper

Many Egyptians believe that having a turned slipper brings terrible things to the house. That’s why many Egyptians are turning the slipper back the way it should be. It’s exciting, and it certainly adds to the uniqueness of the experience while bringing in something different and rewarding. That alone makes it very different.

Lots of great festivals

Egypt is known because it has lots of celebrations, and that’s cool. That means you are bound to find some festival or celebration when you visit the country, which is excellent in its own right. With that being said, you will mainly be impressed with all kinds of festivals like the Sham Ennessim, Abu Simbel Sun Festival, El Hijra, Mild un Nabi and many others. These are all very cool festivals that you will enjoy and have a lot of fun with, making them so cool and exciting.

Shah’et El Mulukhiya

Image source  Wikimedia

This funny kitchen tradition appears when chefs prepare a famous dish with the same name. You must add some garlic to the pot, and then you see the cook inhaling with the mouth open. It’s interesting because it gives the chef an idea of how everything tastes, and it’s also very appealing at the same time. This is one of those strange Egyptian traditions that people will check out, and they are bound to enjoy it more than you might expect, which is impressive in its own right.

Spilling coffee

You would think that spilling coffee or red tea might seem like a strange thing to do. However, this incident is a sign of prosperity in Egyptian culture, showing that good things will happen. It might feel the exact opposite for some, but it’s one of those things that you want to think about. It will bring in that sign of prosperity and happiness that you wish, which is extremely helpful. We all have our quirks and ideas like this one, so this is not that far-fetched when compared to others out there.

Stepping in with the right leg first

You will notice that a lot of Egyptian people believe in this tradition. And that’s not a bad thing, because people in other countries think the same. The idea here is that you have a sense of power, and you feel more confident when you enter a new building with the right leg first. This is so profoundly connected to the Egyptian culture that statues, wall images, and carvings, many of which have the right leg stepping forward, make it an essential tradition that many people in Egypt follow to this date.

Burying a weasel

Many people in Egypt think that burying a weasel at your doorstep will give you prosperity, money, and a better life. Of course, that doesn’t mean everyone in Egypt believes this, but many people do. And that’s the thing that genuinely makes Egyptian culture special because it’s unique and different. It indeed manages to stand out from a unique perspective while bringing in the innovation and quality that you might expect.

3ozomet Marakbyia

The tradition here is that people say this and invite you to a drink, but they don’t mean it. It’s the type of gesture that some people make just for it, but they are not expecting you to accept it anyway. This is quite common in Egypt, especially for the younger generations. It’s one of those things that truly stand out. In the end, the experience itself is pretty exciting and rewarding in its own right.

Not finishing your glass with juice

If the visitor of an Egyptian family doesn’t finish the glass of juice served, then the daughters in that family are not getting married. It’s a bizarre tradition, but it is one of those things that many people might think is true. This kind of stuff shows the uniqueness of Egyptian traditions, and this one truly stands out quite a bit. That alone truly makes it one of the most diverse and distinct traditions that you might expect, especially coming out of Egypt, to begin with.

Having girls

Here’s another one that’s very strange to begin with. Some Egyptian people think that having girls will automatically bring in a much better livelihood. That’s one of those things that many men in Egypt think, and it’s not something shown to be true in any way. But it’s a cool idea and one of those things that will impress you. It’s interesting because many Egyptian people prefer boys since they can be depended on for work and carry business and family names. Yet as you can see, girls are still believed to bring in a lot more wealth when compared to boys, and that alone is something unique.

Twitching eye

Some people in Egypt believe that if your eye is twitching, this is a sign that bad things will arrive during the day. Of course, there’s no specific reasoning behind this. Still, more and more people have started thinking and talking about this, and some believe this is true. Whether it is true or not, it’s still amazing to see what some people believe in at this time. It is something genuinely different, unlike anything you might find out there. But it’s cool and something you want to take into consideration.

Avoiding the black crow

Many people all over Egypt don’t really like black crows. And as you can imagine, this is something shared with other cultures. A black crow seen over a person’s roof is a bad sign. More often than not, it’s believed that a person dies if you see a black crow on someone’s roof. Whether that happens or not, it’s hard to tell. However, more and more people have started believing in this kind of stuff over the years, so there might be some truth to this. It’s one of the darker traditions presented in this list, but certainly one of those things that everyone should know about.

Ramadan

During Ramadan, people in Egypt fast during the day, and they eat only when the sun goes down. That’s why life in the country is quite different during Ramadan time, not to mention businesses have limited schedules. Some are even closed during the day. So it’s a bit different from other countries. Still, then again, it’s one of those things that many locals have been keeping as a habit for many years, and they continue to do so all the time. So that alone is exciting and different.

Wrestling

Some might be shocked by this, but Egypt does have extensive thriving wrestling scenes. Ancient Egyptians were very passionate about wrestling themselves, and it will impress you quite a bit when you learn about it. However, this is something genuinely different, and you will find yourself amazed by the uniqueness of this beautiful tradition in the first place.

Black cats

Black crows are considered a bad sign, but the same can be said about black cats. Many people think these are a bad omen, they are connecting black cats with an evil spirit that is wandering the earth, and you shouldn’t look in its eyes. This is one of those things that many people might end up worried about. But then again, it’s a straightforward, rather strange tradition that many people have. As you can see, there’s a clear connection to black here, and it’s interesting. It hurts the way people see and behave around black cats. Remember that cats were beloved in Egypt for a long time, making this quite a strange occurrence.

Big wedding parties

This is another tradition that has been around for quite some time. People who live in Egypt are known for throwing large wedding parties. These continue to be a tradition for centuries. It’s an excellent idea and concept, and you will see that more and more people love it because it continues to be something normal for locals. They are not accustomed to small weddings like other countries are. Instead, they see the wedding as a time for celebration. It manages to stand out from the crowd in a very distinctive manner. That truly makes it such a unique and unusual situation to think about.

Conclusion

Over the years, many different traditions have entered the Egyptian culture. Many of them continue to be a part of the culture even today. Therefore, it’s crucial to really take your time, understand the culture as much as possible, and learn some traditions. Even if you end up just visiting Egypt. The truth is that you will encounter some of these traditions, and that’s why you want to be prepared beforehand and learn some more about them. It will give you quite a lot of information about what they mean, why they appear, and how to prepare yourself if you encounter any of these, as needed!

Learn more about Egyptian traditions with our Egypt Tours