what do they call christmas in egypt
In Egypt, Christmas is most commonly called “Eid al-Milad” , which means “Feast of the Birth” in Arabic. Coptic Christians in Egypt celebrate Eid al- Milad on January 7 rather than December 25, following the Coptic Orthodox (Julian-based) calendar.
Name and Meaning
- The Arabic term Eid al-Milad (عيد الميلاد) literally translates to “Feast of the Birth,” referring to the birth of Jesus.
- In everyday conversation, Egyptians may also say Eid Milad Majid as a greeting, meaning “Glorious Birth Feast,” similar in usage to “Merry Christmas.”
When Christmas Is Celebrated
- Most Coptic Christians in Egypt observe Christmas on January 7, due to using the older Julian calendar for liturgical dates.
- Some Western-oriented churches and communities in Egypt may still mark December 25, so you can sometimes see Christmas effectively celebrated twice in the country.
How People Refer to It
- In Arabic contexts, especially among locals, Eid al-Milad is the standard term for what English speakers call Christmas.
- In touristy or international settings, the English word “Christmas” is also understood and used alongside the Arabic term.
So if you are wondering “what do they call Christmas in Egypt” , the culturally and linguistically accurate answer is: they call it Eid al- Milad.
TL;DR: They call Christmas Eid al-Milad in Egypt, celebrated mainly on January 7 by Coptic Christians.
Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.