For over a century, the words “Iftar cannon, fire!” were words that brought on a wave of relief for millions of Egyptians. It meant that another day of fasting was successful. Egyptians are brought together by this Iftar cannon. It unites people from all areas of life to commemorate the holy month of Ramadan, irrespective of their backgrounds. As a group, they break their fast together at various sites, and the cannon discharge is a moment of communal celebration.

If you’ve ever had a Turkish coffee with an Egyptian auntie, odds are, she’s tried telling your fortune through the maps left behind by the coffee beans at the bottom of the cup. A part of Egyptian culture is the custom of using one's depleted coffee (Qahwa) cup to reveal another person’s past and future. There's no denying Egyptians have adopted a spiritualist coffee culture.

There’s a hundred percent guarantee you see at least one cat every day while living in Egypt. Whether you’re a cat owner, a cat lover, or even a dog person, you see cats at every corner in Cairo. We all know that cats had a big role in ancient Egyptian mythology and culture. If you’ve ever wondered why, well, ancient Egyptians had solid reasons regarding their appreciation for them, and it’s worth dissecting why our furry neighbors were associated with gods.

The exchanging of rings has been a classic representation of a couple's oneness, love, and commitment for millennia. However, only a few realize that the origins of this lasting custom can be found in ancient Egyptian society, which is also where the idea of the wedding ring originated. The circular ring had more meaning and symbolism in Egypt's past than just being an ornament; it stood for deeply held views on eternal life, love, and the continuous cycle of existence.

Here is Egypt in the old days when it was under the rule of King Fuad I (reign 1917 - 1936) and King Farouk (reign 1936 - 1952). The streets looked more or less empty, well at least compared to nowadays, only a few cars and really a few people walking in the streets of Downtown Cairo.

The population at the time was around 20 million people so would make sense to today's crowds especially in the capital and major cities.

May Ziadeh was a prominent Palestinian female writer, poet and feminist in the early 20th century. Born in Nazareth in 1886 to a Palestinian mother and a Lebanese father, they lived in Palestine till 1908, then immigrated to Egypt where she stayed most of her life.

Being the daughter of Elias Ziadeh, the founder and editor of the newspaper Al-Mahrusah in Egypt at the time, she too was able to publish her works in many different magazines and literary contexts including Al Hilal and Al Ahram , writing in both Arabic and French mainly and only a few of her works in English.

Art is a form of expression of the artist’s soul reflecting their inner and outer environments as a mirror to the events and cultures locally and globally.

Egypt has a rich variety of renowned artists across different media like painters, sculptors, singers, actors, writers, musicians, dancers and the list can go on. In this blog, we are featuring four of Egypt’s contemporary artists who have their unique blueprint here in Egypt and worldwide.

Looking at an old local weekly newspaper called Anbaa Al Maadi, issued in 1958 by Hassan Ibrahim Sobhi Bey who was a Maadi resident at the time, you see the delight of community news and the sharing of weekly events and activities, residents that have returned to their homes after travels, awards being celebrated and even, a resident who got well after having a sick leave and is back to work.

As we are beginning a new year full of new hopes and new beginnings , the Blue Lotus came to mind as it has been depicted to represent the symbolism of rebirth, resurrection, and ascension to purity and divinity.

Within the vibrant tapestry of Egyptian culture, the galabeya stands as an enduring symbol of tradition and history.

Ancient Egypt is renowned for its rich and complex spiritual beliefs, many of which revolved around the concept of the human psyche and its journey through life and the afterlife.

Throughout history, garlic has been celebrated not only for its culinary uses but also for its perceived protective qualities.

The Library of Alexandria, often referred to as the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, stands as a modern testament to the rich intellectual legacy of the ancient world.

As one of the most intriguing civilizations in history, ancient Egypt continues to captivate the world with its majestic pyramids, enigmatic hieroglyphs, and fascinating culture.

Every year in the northern hemisphere between September and February, the earth gifts us with her delightful pomegranates.

As iconic as the Nile River itself, the felucca — a traditional wooden sailing boat— has been a symbol of transportation, trade, and leisure in Egypt for thousands of years.

It used to be that only kings sat on chairs, now everyone sits on a chair.

When we think of the pottery of Fayoum, almost immediately the village of Tunis jumps to the forefront of our minds with its colorful plates decorated with drawings of rural life.

The oldest known baskets were discovered in the Governorate of Fayoum just a 100 kilometers southwest of Cairo.

More than three thousand years ago began a phenomenon in ancient Egypt that would become one of the most popular representations of Halloween — the Scarecrow.