Regional Tradition
Egypt & the Levant
Egypt — with over 100 million Sunni Muslims — and the Levantine nations of Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, and Palestine preserve some of the most ancient and distinctive Sunni Muslim cultural traditions, including the world's leading Sunni religious authority at al-Azhar in Cairo.
Egypt observes the full Islamic calendar with extensive public celebrations of both Eids and the Mawlid al-Nabi. The Cairo Mawlid is the largest in the Muslim world, with sweet stalls offering arousat al-mawlid sugar dolls and processions through the historic Islamic quarter. Sufi orders host elaborate moulids throughout the year for various saints, including the Moulid of Sayyid Ahmad al-Badawi at Tanta which draws millions of attendees. Egyptian Eid features ornate fanous lanterns hung throughout Ramadan and traditional kahk shortbread cookies. The Levantine Eid traditions feature ma'amoul date-and-pistachio cookies, qatayef stuffed pancakes during Ramadan, and the iconic mesaharati drummers who walk neighborhoods waking residents for suhoor. Lebanon and Syria preserve the largest Christian minorities in the Arab world, with Eid celebrations historically shared across faith lines. Palestine's al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem — the destination of the Prophet's Night Journey — is the third holiest site in Islam and receives intensified visitor numbers throughout Rajab and Ramadan.
Featured Festivals in Egypt & the Levant
- Ramadan (1st of Ramadan)
The first day of the Islamic holy month of fasting.
- Laylat al-Qadr (Night of Power)
The Night of Decree, when the Qur'an was first revealed.
- Eid al-Fitr
The festival of breaking the fast at the end of Ramadan.
- Day of Arafah
The most blessed day in the Islamic calendar, the climax of Hajj.
- Eid al-Adha
The Festival of Sacrifice commemorating Prophet Ibrahim's devotion.
- Islamic New Year (Hijri New Year)
The first day of the Islamic lunar year, marking the Hijra to Medina.
- Day of Ashura
A day of fasting for Sunni Muslims; mourning for Shia Muslims.
- Mawlid al-Nabi
Commemoration of the birth of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.
- Isra and Mi'raj
The Night Journey and Ascension of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.
- Laylat al-Bara'ah (Shab-e-Barat)
The Night of Forgiveness, two weeks before Ramadan.