Colors of Sinai - traditions, festivals, mentality and lifestyle

While communicating with Egyptians, remember that the vast majority of them are Muslims. So they have to adhere to certain standards of behaviour. Moreover, tourists should also behave decently. For example, it is prohibited here to drink alcohol outside the bars, cafes, houses or hotels. Locals won’t appreciate if someone is walking on the streets with a bottle of strong drink. It can even lead to arrest. Nudism is prohibited by law here, don’t try to get a perfect tan without a bikini in Egypt. Women also can’t sunbathe topless.

It should be noted that most of the locals are accustomed to the fact that their women walk in clothes that hide all of the parts of the body. This is especially important during the holy month of Ramadan or if you intend to visit religious areas. Open closes show that a woman is easy. The same thing works in their attitude to foreigners. If you go to public places or streets of Sinai, men will make you obscene complements and offers. These are only words and nobody will be rude with a woman, but it can anger your man. The best advice for all ladies is to wear clothes which hide legs, shoulders and belly.

Take into account that local inhabitants are emotional people. They love to interrupt each other, raise voice and use a lot of hand movements. You should also remember that the favourite word of Egyptians is «bukra» which means tomorrow. Locals believe that everything depends on God’s will. So, there is no actual tomorrow. In brief, Egyptians live according to the proverb «Between promising and performing a man may marry his daughter». It is not customed here to give direct refuses, especially to tourists. It is obvious because foreigners bring a lot of money to the country. You will never hear a refusal even if your request is puzzling. But if a local has agreed to fulfil your request, it doesn't mean that he will keep the promise. One more thing, they are always late for meetings. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

Most of the locals are quite tolerate towards the representatives of other religions. It may be caused by the fact that Copts and Christians who have been living in Egypt since the beginning of time. However, if you want to avoid quarrels with locals, try not to discuss religious issues. What’s interesting, Egyptians paint eggs on the first Monday after Coptic Easter. This custom is rooted in the ancient Egyptian spring festival Sham el-Nessim. Egyptians believe that everything has roots in Egypt. For example, they think that stuffed peppers and stuffed cabbage are variants of ancient mahshi dish.

It is considered usual here to visit friends or relatives late and stay with them after midnight chatting and discussing different events. They don’t each much during these meetings, just fruit and drinks. However, if a foreigner comes to the house of a local, many traditional dishes will be offered to him. It is not customed here to refuse to taste dishes. Some of the Egyptians can give a bed for a night to a stranger if they have a place. One more interesting fact is that almost all of the shops have free or cheap delivery service in Egypt.

As a rule, locals live with parents for a long time. Moreover, before a girl is married, her family takes care of her. She can’t go anywhere with her man, even if they are engaged. Man is always the head of the family. He earns money and takes care of his wife and children. Divorces are rare here. Egyptians love and indulge their children. Locals celebrate such holidays as Christian Christmas, secular the Revolution Day, the Labor Day and Sinai Liberation Day. Sham El Nessim is an Egyptian national holiday marking the beginning of spring. Eid al-Fitr is an important religious holiday celebrated by Muslims worldwide. It marks the end of Ramadan. Eid al-Adha is second of Islamic holidays celebrated worldwide. There is also a large-scale celebration on Muslim New Year.