What not to do when communicating with an Egyptian. Egypt: features of communication between tourists and the local population

Men in this country treat girls differently than European young men. Tight, sexy clothes are something that can get you in big trouble.

Even if a girl dressed like this is accompanied by a young man, then for male citizens of this country he does not become any kind of “barrier.” Therefore, be prudent, think about safety and think carefully about the appearance so that nothing bad happens. After all, no one needs physical and emotional trauma?! At home and in hotels, you can wear almost any clothing.

But keep in mind that the “ardor” of the staff will only be restrained by the desire to stay in a well-paid job.

In this state, those aspects that would not be paid special attention to in European countries are prohibited. It is strictly forbidden for girls to swim without a top, as well as for all people (both men and women) to swim completely naked. Of course, this law does not apply to baths and showers, but only to swimming pools and beaches. Such phenomena are also unacceptable in private clubs and complexes.

Features of business communication

If you visited this country with business intentions, then you need to take into account the peculiar mentality of the citizens of this state. First, it is customary here to be late for business meetings, so the Egyptian will not make excuses for this, and you will not even see a hint of embarrassment on his face. Citizens of this state do everything slowly, so be patient, and this applies to both the decision-making process and the manner of negotiations.

Many people have experienced that the further south a nation lives, the more emotional it is. Therefore, when communicating with local citizens, be prepared for the fact that you will hear, in addition to oriental florid speech, also exaggeration and expression. As a rule, Muslims do not drink alcohol. When we drink in front of them, they usually don’t mind.

Important features of the mentality of the country’s citizens

Having lived here for several years, you can understand how the Russian mentality differs from the Egyptian one. People who come here should understand that it is better not to come to them with your samovar, as they will not understand you, so have respect for their traditions. If you have agreed on a meeting with an Egyptian, then feel free to be half an hour, or even an hour, late for it. After all, the citizens of this country are not used to arriving on time.

Modesty is especially valued in girls. In Egyptian cities, you cannot meet a local girl who will be dressed in a miniskirt, shorts or an overly revealing dress. Even in their dreams they cannot imagine the way European representatives of the fair sex dress in their city.

Local girls always go completely covered; in revealing clothes, only their legal husband sees them. Therefore, when the men of this country see half-naked tourists, they believe that if they dress like that, then everything is permitted. They assume that a girl in a revealing outfit is not serious and doesn’t mind going for a walk. Whether this is right or wrong is not for us to judge. Therefore, if you want to protect yourself from unnecessary gossip in this country, then dress so that your legs, shoulders and stomach are covered.

Egyptians are smiling, kind, even slightly annoying. They love to communicate with tourists from other countries.

Getting to know local customs, traditions, and norms of behavior in Egypt is not only an interesting, but also a useful activity. The mentality of the Egyptians is largely shaped by the centuries-old influence of the dogmas of Islam. Even today, the way of life is subordinated to religion.

Dress and behavior

It is advisable for tourists to respect local traditions and remember that sometimes a style of clothing or behavior common in the Western world can be perceived by Egyptians as extremely indecent and offensive. Although local residents make allowances for the extravagance of foreign tourists, it is preferable to maintain some conservatism in appearance and behavior.

Women traveling unaccompanied should behave very carefully. Short dresses, miniskirts, shorts can be safely worn on the hotel premises, or in popular resort cities such as Hurghada or Sharm el-Sheikh. In areas less accustomed to the influx of European tourists, a woman’s relaxed behavior and clothing that leaves significant areas of her body exposed are likely to be perceived as accessibility. Such a tourist can be afraid of violence and annoying advances from local men.

Single ladies should remember that even agreeing to drink a cup of tea together will be regarded as encouragement for a closer acquaintance.

A manifestation of disrespect for local traditions is the appearance of bare-chested men in public places. Demonstrative displays of affection, public hugs and kisses are also not recommended - such behavior is offensive to religious Egyptians.

Photographing

Before photographing local residents, it is imperative to ask their consent. Most Egyptians will gladly agree to pose, but exceptions are possible - according to the Koran, creating images of people is unacceptable.

Photography of most attractions and museum exhibits is permitted, but often at an additional cost. In order to avoid problems with local authorities, it is wiser to avoid taking photos and videos in places related to strategic sites (bridges, airports, ports).

Tips and baksheesh

Egyptians are friendly and helpful people. If a tourist finds himself in a difficult situation, he will be assisted by both government officials (including the special tourist police patrolling in crowded tourist areas) and the local population. Before accepting help from local residents, think about how you can pay - for any services provided you usually have to pay “baksheesh”, that is, a tip.

Many people demand baksheesh: from the boy who opened the car door to the volunteer “guide” to local attractions.

It is customary to pay service personnel in hotels in cases where the service is provided very well or goes beyond the scope of direct official duties.

To avoid getting into an awkward position, it is better to have a supply of small bills or coins with you. A tip of about 5% of the cost of the service is considered decent, although they may require much more. Don’t give in to pressure; pay as much as you think is necessary and only after the service has already been provided.

What to remember

Knowledge of some Egyptian traditions will allow a guest of the country to establish himself as a well-mannered person who respects the local culture. Thus, during Ramadan, believers are prohibited from touching food, drink, or tobacco until sunset. A gesture of respect for the religious feelings of the Egyptians would be such abstinence in public places.

Having received an invitation to visit, it is appropriate to prepare a small gift, such as local sweets, for the hosts.

Egypt is an eastern country filled with secrets and a special attitude to life. The Egyptians are a friendly and non-aggressive people, but very law-abiding, rather poor and mostly poorly educated (read more about the character of the Egyptians in the article “Egyptians: portrait against the backdrop of a pyramid, skyscraper and tourists”). In addition, they are very traditional, conservative and committed to their customs and traditions, like all the peoples of the East. Therefore, in order to avoid getting into unpleasant or even dangerous situations, you should have at least a general idea of ​​the country and its inhabitants, and while in Egypt, follow the rules of behavior that will make your stay in this fabulous country pleasant and cloudless.

Egyptians are friendly people who treat tourists kindly and hospitably. Like all nations, Egyptians appreciate it when tourists visiting the country respect their culture, customs and traditions. Therefore, when coming to Egypt, it is important to remember that you are a guest, and your behavior should be respectful and dignified. To do this, you need to know some national features of the traditional life of Egypt, which will help you get the most out of your trip and avoid incidents and troubles.

They greet you by their clothes...

Cloth

Clothing is a large and complex behavioral topic for the entire East, including Egypt. But we won’t go too deep and will give only a few general recommendations, primarily for women.

The most important thing is to have a good understanding of where you are. If you flew from Moscow directly to Sharm el-Sheikh or other resorts in Sinai, then you have nothing to worry about: short skirts, shorts, pareos and open shoulders will not cause a furor and boos. When moving from the Sinai coastal resort area to Cairo and from Cairo to Sinai, Russian tourists usually experience culture shock; it seems to them that these are two different countries. If you are traveling to mainland Egypt, you should absolutely avoid anything that exposes your skin, except your feet, hands and face. The main thing here is to understand that you are not limiting your own freedom, but taking into account the mentality of local men and taking care of your own comfort and safety.

No, you are unlikely to be subjected to physical violence, but you will easily receive an indecent spanking, groping, whistling and unpleasant grins. It must be remembered that Egypt is a Muslim country, and Islam requires a very specific style of behavior from a woman. Also, women are not recommended to walk alone, again for reasons of how others perceive you. Don’t go into coffee shops for locals unless absolutely necessary; only men usually gather there; of course, no one will kick you out, but you are guaranteed to be taken aback for a few minutes and feel “uneasy.”

Men in shorts and T-shirts with bare shoulders will also look indecent on the streets of continental Egyptian cities. The point here is the innate chastity of the Egyptians and their adherence to Islamic principles. However, for those who have already traveled to Muslim countries, for example, Tunisia or Morocco, this is not news.

Shoes

As in all Muslim countries, in Egypt it is customary to take off shoes when entering an Egyptian’s house, and even more so, into places of worship. When entering the mosque, you will have to leave your shoes under the supervision of a guard or gatekeeper. It won’t be stolen here, but it can be “accidentally mixed up,” and therefore, for complete guarantee, it is better to give the gatekeeper a small baksheesh, half a pound. You can also take your shoes with you and carry them in your hand, but do not forget to fold them with the soles inward, as they are “unclean” in the literal and figurative sense of the word and can offend the feelings of believers in a sacred place for them. Please note that you must take off your shoes not only when entering a mosque, but also when entering many Coptic churches. Inside monasteries there are especially sacred chapels and rooms where it is also forbidden to enter with shoes, for example, the Chapel of the Burning Bush in the Orthodox Monastery of St. Catherine on the Sinai Peninsula.

Present

When coming to an Egyptian’s house, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to take a small gift with you, for example, sweets for tea or something else tasty, but in no case meat, you might not get it. You can give souvenirs taken from home, but it is better if they have some practical meaning; Egyptians are not rich and value practicality. If you have established friendly relations with an Egyptian and his family and have taken several photographs together, it would be good to forward these photographs to them upon returning from Egypt to your homeland. In this way, you will strengthen the friendship that has arisen, and next time you will be received as if you were family.

... escorted by the mind

Left hand taboo

This rule applies to all aspects of Egyptian life: the left hand is considered “unclean” by the Egyptians. For example, they perform hygienic procedures in the toilet or take off their shoes. Accordingly, under no circumstances should you take food with your left hand, especially from a shared bowl! You also cannot pass or take objects with your left hand, and, of course, you cannot greet or make any signs directed at people with your left hand. If you are left-handed, during your stay in Egypt you will have to force yourself to overcome your nature and forget about your left hand, use your right hand as your main operating hand, at least in the presence of the Egyptians. To avoid involuntary actions with your left hand, it is better to generally learn to hold it behind your back.

Topics for conversation

For obvious reasons, it is not worth discussing with the Egyptians the abundance of military personnel and relations with Israel, Palestine, as well as the confrontation between the Arab and Western worlds. If your point of view is different from that of a local Egyptian, this may lead to unnecessary discussion. It’s better to limit yourself to meaningless phrases like “all people are brothers” and move the conversation to another, safer topic, like the culture of Ancient Egypt or the Nile floods.

Also beware of questions regarding gender relations. and the topic of female circumcision, the Egyptians take an unusual, and perhaps shocking, position on these issues, so this topic is unlikely to contribute to the establishment of friendly relations. By the way, when visiting an Egyptian, you should not sit at the table next to a person of the opposite sex, or stare at women and give them compliments. Regarding compliments, the most you can afford is to tell the Egyptian in a gentle manner that he has a very beautiful and cozy home, and to wish health to his children, relatives and wife.

Removal of souvenirs

It is possible to export antiques and antiques from Egypt only with a special permit, and it is impossible for an ordinary tourist to obtain such a permit. Therefore, do not hope that if you purchase a truly valuable item cheaply from an antique shop, you will be able to smuggle it across the border without hindrance. Even a solid baksheesh will not help, since the export of historical valuables from the country is a crime against the state and is brutally prosecuted. In the best case, they will simply take it away from you, in the worst case, you will pay a large fine, measured in thousands of dollars, and until you pay it, you will spend time in an Egyptian prison, which will not give you any pleasure. It is also forbidden to take with you or even pick up fragments of statues and stone blocks in places where monuments are concentrated, so it is not recommended to take with you a piece of the Luxor Temple or a stone from the foot of the pyramid.

The export ban also applies to Red Sea souvenirs. All shops selling shells or coral in Sharm el-Sheikh are illegal, and there is even a tourist movement calling for a boycott of this illegal trade, which violates the ecological integrity and safety of the Red Sea. If you find a Red Sea shell at the airport, you will be fined a thousand dollars. The alternative is the same - prison.

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If you think about it, there is nothing complicated in the rules described above, but by following them, you will protect yourself from unpleasant surprises and leave a good memory of yourself.

Literature:

• Krotov A.V., Sapunov A.A. Egypt for real: Cairo and everything else. Practical and transport guide. – M., “Geo-MT”, with the participation of TC “Scrinti”, 2009.
• Egypt / ROUGH GUIDES / Trans. from English T.G. Lisitsina, G.S. Makharadze, A.V. Shevchenko. – M.: AST: Astrel, 2009.
• Egypt / comp. E. Kuznetsova. – M.: AST; St. Petersburg: Sova, 2008. – (Travel wisely!).
• Altman. J. Egypt. – M.: Veche, 2008. – (Guide in your pocket).

Before traveling, familiarize yourself with the peculiarities of your stay and rules of conduct in Egypt, find out about the pitfalls that tourists face if they lack awareness. Well, to ensure that your holiday in Egypt is remembered only by pleasant impressions and is not overshadowed by misunderstandings, read the rules later in the article.

So, tourists in Egypt are prohibited from:

• Sunbathing on the beach without a swimsuit
• Meet and talk to Egyptian women
• Drink alcohol, smoke and behave provocatively in public places.
• Export from Egypt corals and shells obtained from the Red Sea. They are under state protection and are considered a national treasure. If corals are found on you during an inspection of your luggage, you may face a large fine and the removal of security items.
• Wear transparent and revealing clothing.

When visiting Muslim mosques in Egypt, as well as Buddhist monasteries in Egypt, you should wear the loosest and most closed clothing possible. When entering the mosque, you must remove your shoes and wash your hands. The same rules should be observed and taken, in particular about the rules for visiting Buddhist monasteries. Women are prohibited from visiting the mosque in revealing outfits, with their heads uncovered and in open shoes. Also, talking and laughing loudly in mosques is prohibited. Show respect for the religion of the local population.

In addition, when vacationing in Egypt, be prepared to tip the hotel staff for any services. In addition, it would not be a bad idea to tip the taxi driver and waiter in the restaurant for good service. The standard tip is one dollar, but if you want to save money, tip in Egyptian pounds. If you want to save money, carry your own suitcases, pick up things from the laundry and bring cocktails from the beach bar. Getting around the city is cheaper by public transport than by taxi. Minibus taxis in Egypt go to all parts of the city and are inexpensive.

It is better to exchange foreign currency at a bank or at the airport.

It is cheaper to buy excursions from companies in the city, although this does not guarantee your safety and good quality of excursions. Keep in mind that the cost of excursions offered by your tour operator necessarily includes life and health insurance, which is very important, so it is safer to buy excursions from a tour operator representative in a hotel, rather than from a company in the city.

When walking through the market and souvenir shops in search of souvenirs and gifts for loved ones, be sure to bargain with the sellers, feign dissatisfaction with the price and say that you cannot afford such expensive gifts and souvenirs from Egypt, as if you would be better off looking for another store with lower prices. It is customary in Egypt to always exaggerate the starting price by two or even three times, but if you haggle, you can easily reduce the price, which is profitable for you and for the seller. However, before you buy anything, first study the approximate prices for the goods you are interested in; prices may differ significantly.

In addition, when walking around the market, keep an eye on your wallet and mobile phone, and do not lose sight of your handbag, as petty thieves are not uncommon in Egyptian markets. You should also not take a large amount of money with you for shopping, limit yourself to a small amount in different pockets, and it is better not to wear precious jewelry at all to the market.

It is best to put money, jewelry and precious items in the hotel safe upon check-in, rather than storing them in suitcases or carrying them with you all the time.

Try to calculate in advance your expenses and the required amount of money for a vacation in Egypt. This is necessary in order to spend the money that you will exchange for the national currency (Egyptian pounds) before the day of your flight home. Otherwise, you can exchange the remaining Egyptian pounds back into dollars or euros, but you will lose in the exchange rate difference. You can exchange money either at a bank branch at the hotel or at the airport.

Female tourists should not wear too tight or revealing outfits when going out into the city, otherwise they cannot avoid intrusive advances and possibly even indecent proposals.

Egyptian men are very temperamental due to their traditions and morals and are not indifferent to beautiful women. But in order to avoid this, be more modest in your behavior and choice of clothing.

A note for tourists about Egypt and thanks to the local residents. Baksheesh is a common small bribe given to Egyptians. Bakshish is given in case of providing any assistance or service (taking a photo or showing the way).

Now you know what not to do in your host country, how to improve your holiday conditions, and how to easily save on purchases and services in Egypt.

All of the above rules of conduct for tourists and the moral principles of the local population are not an exhaustive list of generally accepted traditions and morals of Egyptians, which they adhere to in their daily lives. There are also other equally important things that tourists coming to Egypt on vacation should know about.

Egyptian character

Remember once and for all: Egypt is a Muslim country. Yes, there are Christians here - Copts, in other words. Yes, there are adherents of other religions. But they are a minority. A noticeable minority. Therefore, Egypt is a Muslim country. This means that the entire life and traditions of the Egyptians pass through Muslim dogmas, with all the ensuing consequences. There is no need to be intimidated by the singing of the muezzin, who calls the faithful to prayer five times a day through a loudspeaker. Usually, at this time, no matter what the Egyptian is doing, he drops everything he is doing and goes to pray. Even if it is a bus driver taking tourists to a hotel, believe me, he will stop the car and go to pray. And let the whole world wait…

Egyptians are never in a hurry; they do everything slowly. There is even a long-established expression in the world: “Egyptian time” (“Egyptian time”). Egyptians are late everywhere and always. Not rushing anywhere is generally a characteristic feature of this people, partly due to the hot climate. Well, do you really want to rush somewhere, or do anything at all, when it’s +35°C outside? Therefore, you should not be surprised if the hotel, in response to your request to bring something to drink, you will wait for a very long time, or maybe they will completely forget about you. Among other things, Egyptians take a very long time to make decisions (what's the rush?) and are constantly late for meetings. Having made an appointment with an Egyptian for 3 o'clock, you can arrive at 4 o'clock and be the first, and at 7 o'clock you will receive a call or a note apologizing for being late and asking to reschedule the date for tomorrow at the same time. Do not be offended and do not find out the reasons - you will receive in response the phrase: “Egyptian time!”

The ritual of meeting the Egyptians is very entertaining. For example, when meeting a woman, the man always introduces himself first - then the woman. If an unmarried woman and an unmarried man meet, the woman always introduces herself as married, and the man as married. Such rules help to avoid various rumors and gossip from the outside. When meeting someone, they must say “fursa saidida,” which means “very nice, glad to meet you” (literal translation: “happy occasion”) and shake their right hand. It is not customary to offer your left hand; it is considered bad manners. In addition, the left hand in Egypt is associated with something unclean (Egyptians use their left hand to wash their private parts). Only a verbal greeting is sufficient; a handshake between a man and a woman is prohibited. And when two women greet, a handshake is obligatory, as is a symbolic kiss on both cheeks. If men have not seen each other for a long time and know each other well, when they meet, they can hug each other and kiss each other on both cheeks. A kiss on the cheek between a man and a woman when meeting is absolutely unacceptable (!!!).

Egyptians are Muslims; like all true Muslim believers, they do not drink alcohol or eat pork. DO NOT give them alcoholic drinks, sausage and other pork products - this act, dictated by good intentions on your part, will be perceived incorrectly and may offend the feelings of true Muslims.

One of the interesting features of the character of the Egyptians is that they are all very superstitious people. Everywhere you can see amulets against the evil eye, amulets that attract money, amulets for health and much more. There are amulets at the entrances to poor houses and luxury apartments, and on the window of a small shop, and on the glass of an expensive car, and under the lapel of a jacket from a French Couturier, and on the national galabaya. Sometimes their superstitions reach the point of absurdity: for example, if you praise an Egyptian too much for the services provided to you, he may take it as if you are trying to jinx him. Or, for example, what’s unkind, say how beautiful a woman looks or how good her children are. Such words may be mistaken for a desire to jinx if the phrase is not accompanied by the expression “ma shaa-lla!”, which means “By the grace of God!”

By the way, children in Egypt are protected from the evil eye in very unconventional ways: they are called by dissonant names, boys are dressed in dresses and even their ears are pierced, the child’s face is smeared with soot, thus disguising it so as not to attract attention. For example, on the streets of Egyptian cities you can see how an excellently dressed mother, fragrant with expensive aromas, walks decorously with a child who is dressed in unwashed cast-offs, and his face is heavily smeared with soot. According to caring parents, such a child will not attract the attention of envious people. All available and known means are used to ensure that the child is not jinxed. Here, as they say, everything depends on the imagination, or on the creativity of the parents.

There are other superstitions. For example, showing the sole of your shoe can be a sign of disrespect. This may cause anger in the offended Egyptian. At night you cannot cut your hair and nails, clean your apartment, or put your shoes in a crisscross pattern. You can't sew at night. Such superstitions are common in other countries, but Egypt is their founder.

If you want to take photographs with local residents while on vacation, be sure to ask their permission before taking photographs. Egyptians are very friendly and helpful, and will most likely agree to take a couple of photos, but they won’t do anything for nothing. When providing any service, you will be asked for “baksheesh”, which is approximately 5% of the cost of the service. Therefore, think about how you will pay before accepting help from someone or asking for something. Remember, too, that the Koran prohibits impersonating a person, and it may not be acceptable for a religious Egyptian to pose for the camera. Asking to take a photo with an Egyptian woman is the height of indecency.

Egypt is an eastern country, and in the East, as you know, it is customary to bargain. The more firmly you stand your ground, the more respectful they will treat you. Before you buy anything on the market, ask the price, and then be sure to bargain, and under no circumstances make concessions. This way you can reduce the price by 5 times or more.

Since Muslim Egyptians are prohibited by religion from drinking alcohol, all of them, both men and women here, are passionate smokers. The most popular local cigarettes in the country are Cleopatra. But most of all, hookah smoking, which is called “shisha” here, is widespread in Egypt. In Egypt, there are a huge number of varieties of hookah tobacco - it can be light and strong, with the aroma of honey, apples, watermelon, strawberries, peaches and many other fruits and aromas. In any cafe, after a cup of strong coffee, you can smoke a hookah, which is what local residents often do. In addition, almost all Egyptians smoke hashish. Not every day, not often, and some even only on holidays, but nevertheless they smoke. They use hashish to relieve stress and tension (instead of alcohol).

This is not to say that there is no crime in Egypt, but its level in the country is low. The most common crimes are simple thefts, especially in crowded places there are a lot of pickpockets. But, perhaps, the greatest danger on the streets of the country is created by absolutely unbridled local drivers. This is who the phrase “monkey with a grenade” really suits best. No one knows what can be expected from them in the next moment. Here they absolutely ignore road markings, never use turn signals, do not look in the rear and side view mirrors, and they consider high beams in the evening and at night to be simply an indecent act and cause a violent response from drivers of oncoming cars. Drivers always honk: when they want to turn, when they just want to greet someone, or they simply honk at the car ahead. A minibus or bus can change its direction or stop location at any time, and passengers jump onto the bus while it is moving, the driver does not even cover the open doors. Overall, it's fun...

Egyptians love football very much. On the day of important matches, fans go to street cafes, where a large TV is installed, and everyone can enjoy watching their favorite team play. The largest and most popular football clubs in Egypt are Ahly and Zamalek.

Egyptians know how to rejoice and easily strike up friendships with the person they like. They are jealous of statements about their homeland, therefore, any criticism of the government is perceived as rudeness.

There are different layers of society in Egypt, from the lower to the upper class. Representatives of high society, as a rule, live in the capital of Egypt - Cairo; they are educated and cultured, speak languages, dress in a European style, and are interested in modern art, music, and literature. The middle class usually lives in houses that are not fully completed; they are built on several floors. This is done on purpose, because no tax is charged for an unfinished house, and when children or grandchildren are born in the family, the house is completed by one more floor, but still remains unfinished. The lower strata of the population are forced to live in the “city of the dead” - they are the “dregs of society,” losers who have not realized themselves in life.

Egyptian clothing

The hot desert climate also left its mark on the clothing of the Egyptians. The traditional men's clothing of peasants (fellahs) is a long, toe-length shirt made of blue or white cotton fabric (“galabeya”), which is worn over short pants. The headdress is a felt yarmulke (“lebda”). In cold weather, put on a coat, jacket or some other warm garment. Middle-income people and rich people prefer European-style clothing.

Women here wear black hijabs, which were previously intended to protect from the hot sun and strong wind, but have now become an integral part of a religious woman. Often, women liven up their outfits with brightly colored elements, sometimes with embellishments and lace. BUT, there are cases when women wear European clothes, often these are those who studied at universities and work as doctors, teachers, and lawyers.

For tourists, there are huge concessions in terms of clothing, but still, it is worth respecting Muslim traditions. You should not appear on the city streets with bare shoulders, short skirts or tight jeans. An open neckline, bare back and bare legs are also not the best attire for a girl outside the hotel. If you do not want to attract the attention of local men, who can be very intrusive, it is better to choose more modest clothes when going out into the city. Sunbathing on the beach without a swimsuit top is here, too. not accepted, Egypt has never been famous for its tolerance towards nudists.

The same applies to men. Outside the hotel, you should think about your wardrobe. Shorts must cover your knees, you cannot walk on the streets without a shirt or T-shirt, and bare feet can be considered a sign of poverty.

Egyptian wedding

An Egyptian family is usually created not by the wishes of the young, but by the agreement of the parents. People here are used to observing centuries-old traditions. In more liberal families, children choose their own mate, but the parents’ opinion is still taken into account. Egyptian women get married very early, as soon as they start menstruating. Girls at the age of 13 - 14 are usually already married, or, in extreme cases, engaged. But no Egyptian young lady will marry an untenable groom, even if her age is running out.

Before the Egyptian woman becomes her legal wife, her life is not at all sugar - the parents do not take their eyes off their daughter, because even a friendly kiss can become an obstacle to her marriage. If a girl has allowed herself something free, then she must marry a seducer. If not, then she is doomed to be called a “sharmuta” (prostitute) for the rest of her life. She is sent out of sight into the wilderness of the village to do various agricultural work. There she grows old alone and in the future she will have no hopes for marriage, family or a happy life.

As a rule, before the engagement, a girl and a young man MUST meet in the presence of relatives; under no circumstances should they be left alone, so as not to discredit the girl’s honor. If the young people like each other, then the ceremony of matchmaking or bride ransom takes place. Parents of young people begin discussing material issues, for example:

Does the groom have an apartment, what kind and where? (The parents usually buy an apartment for the groom. In villages, people simply add another floor for the newlyweds to their house.) Very often, a man has to collect money for several years to get married.

If there is no apartment, then when does he intend to buy it? (In middle-income families, it is not customary for young people to live with their parents, therefore, the engagement can last for years while the groom’s family saves for housing. Sometimes poor families agree for the young to live in a rented apartment for some time).

What size of the “cap” (ransom) does the groom intend to give for the bride? (The agreed amount is given to the bride to buy gold, which will guarantee her financial security in case of divorce - the groom will not pay off the groom with any rams or camels.)

What dowry does the bride have? (Traditionally, the bride’s family takes upon itself the purchase of furniture and everything necessary for the new apartment).

If the parents manage to agree, then the official engagement date is announced. If they fail, they look for a new candidate for their child.

The Egyptian betrothal ceremony proceeds as follows. A young man comes to his bride with a wedding gift called a “markh”. As a rule, these are jewelry. An Egyptian bride is given four (!!!) wedding rings at once, as well as necklaces and bracelets. The more expensive the jewelry, the richer the groom, therefore, they usually do not skimp on such jewelry. In addition, the young man must also have a furnished home, and the bride brings furniture, household appliances for the kitchen and textiles to the house.

After the engagement, young people are allowed to meet: go to a cafe, cinema or just walk along the streets, most often, STRICTLY under the supervision of the relatives of the bride or groom, or they must describe the route of the walk in detail so that at any time one of the relatives can find them. All this is done so that no one can disgrace the girl’s honor or doubt her piety. Of course, before marriage, young people do not have any intimate relationships or kisses, often there cannot even be any touching. Here they don’t know what flirting is, no one walks the streets holding hands, you won’t see couples kissing anywhere. Everything here is very strict and tough, centuries-old traditions are observed. If a girl’s reputation is damaged, then a terrible stain falls on the family, her existence becomes unbearable. A young husband who discovers that his wife is not a virgin will drive her away in shame. (In the past, a girl’s father and brothers could drag her into the desert and cut her throat. And an unfaithful wife would be stoned or drowned, along with her lover. Nowadays, of course, such customs have become obsolete, although they are sometimes practiced in areas far from civilization Egyptian villages).

Nowadays, many city girls allow themselves a little more. They can have a young man, live separately from their parents, visit entertainment venues and lead a completely European lifestyle, with one big BUT: all their adventures must be strictly classified, otherwise it will be very difficult, almost impossible, for them to get married. Therefore, as soon as a suitable groom turns up, the Egyptian woman goes straight to undergo hymenoplasty (surgical restoration of the hymen - an extremely popular procedure in Egypt) and prepares for the wedding ceremony. Neither her future husband, nor her relatives, and especially her parents, should find out what the young Egyptian woman did before marriage, otherwise it would be a shame for the whole family.

After the engagement, some time must pass, after which the wedding will take place. But, if it still doesn’t come to the wedding, the bride is obliged to return all his gifts to the groom.

After the engagement, the Egyptian woman, accompanied by her relatives, goes to a jewelry store and uses the entire amount of the bride price to buy herself gold jewelry. She will either store them in a box for a rainy day, or wear them on herself. Many Egyptian women walk the streets, hung with gold bracelets, chains and rings.

After this, the bride's family needs to purchase furniture for the groom's apartment. You have to buy a lot: a dining room set, bedroom furniture, a living room set and children's furniture. The paradox in this situation is that many brides choose furniture without having any idea about the size and layout of the future apartment, and nothing good comes of it. All these purchases cost the bride's family a pretty penny. Therefore, from the very birth of their daughter, mothers and grandmothers begin to collect a dowry for her in the form of table sets, fabrics for bed linen and curtains, various household appliances and other things necessary for everyday life.
Before the wedding, it is customary that the bride often visits the hammam with all her relatives. Here she gets sugar hair removal all over her body and gets very beautiful henna tattoos on her arms and legs.

The Egyptians call a wedding “zeffa”. Urgent, sudden, secret or “scheduled” weddings, theoretically, cannot happen here. On the wedding day, the bride dresses in a traditional white fluffy wedding dress, which, as a rule, from the neckline to the hem is embroidered with beads, beads, ribbons, feathers and other sparkles and other cute things that only catch the eye of the dressmaker. By the way, for many Egyptian Muslim women, a wedding is the only day when she can afford to be without a headscarf and expose her arms and cleavage. The groom, dressed in a suit, picks up the bride from home or meets her at the mosque where they hold their nikah. “Nikah” is held in large mosques and special halls at the mosque, which can accommodate up to 500 or more people at a time. If the wedding is “economy” and no more than 100 people, then the marriage ceremony is performed in any mosque closest to the house. After this, the newlyweds and accompanying guests go to the photo salon, where they pose in the studio for about an hour. Then, the wedding feast begins.

The place of the feast that the parents of the young people rented, of course, depends on their wealth and ambitions. Before the celebration begins, the bride and groom are seated on special chairs on a small elevation and surrounded by lighted branches or bunches of grass. During the dances, the chairs with the newlyweds are often lifted into the arms of the merry guests, and then it becomes even more fun. As a rule, men and women dance separately. Specially prepared theatrical performances, which are performed by the hosts and guests, are very popular at wedding feasts. In general, a real Egyptian wedding consists of women in beautiful oriental dresses, loud music, a bride in a traditional white dress, a groom and friends in festive costumes, delicious treats, sweets, and not a gram of alcohol.

An interesting tradition at many Egyptian weddings is that the newlyweds must dance the shemodan, otherwise they will not be considered spouses. Shemodan is a very interesting and difficult dance; it is danced with a candelabra on the head. At the first sounds of the shemodan, those invited must surround a pre-built throne with armfuls of flowers and light ritual candles. Only the newlyweds and the girl are allowed into the circle, who demonstrates the movements of the shemodan, puts a candelabra on the bride’s head, and for half an hour the bride must dance a belly dance to the screams of the guests, while the groom insures the bride from falling.

An Egyptian wedding table always includes lamb with rice, topped with a special fermented milk sauce. They also prepare a special ritual pilaf “mak-lyube” for weddings. A very popular traditional Egyptian wedding soup is made with a variety of seasonings, including mint, paprika, cinnamon and cloves. This soup has the ability to heighten the senses of the newlyweds and contribute to the rapid addition of offspring. In addition, “bintas-sahn” are always present at weddings - these are sweets that are dough filled with butter and honey.

It is worth noting that wedding guests do not give anything to the newlyweds. There are simply no envelopes with money, boxes with small household appliances or bags with towels and toys at Egyptian weddings. The bride's parents buy all this for the girl long before her marriage.

I must say that It was the ancient Egyptians who came up with such a legalized form of relations between a man and a woman as marriage. And it was they who came up with and disseminated such a concept as a “nuptial agreement”, which clearly indicates the rights and responsibilities of the husband and wife and their share in joint property. And today, on the wedding day, the bride and groom often sign a marriage contract, which includes the amount of muahrah - this is the money paid to the bride in the event of a divorce. Previously, marriages between brothers and sisters, even cousins, were also welcomed in Egypt, but this tradition is practically not practiced these days.

By the way, the tradition of exchanging rings appeared more than 6 thousand years ago in Egypt . From Egypt this custom spread to other countries. The ring is a symbol of stability, unchanging and eternal love. In Egypt, it is believed that a vein runs through the middle finger of the left hand to the heart. Therefore, rings are placed on the middle finger of the left hand.

After the banquet, the newlyweds go to their new apartment and begin their life together. In some places in Egyptian villages there is a custom when, after the first wedding night, the sheets from the newlyweds’ bed are shown to everyone to confirm the bride’s innocence. In large cities, this tradition has not been practiced for a long time.

According to Muslim traditions, a man can marry several girls, both immediately and after a while. But then you will have to ask the first wife’s permission, but this is just for the sake of decency. An Egyptian man can have four wives, but in real life, marriage with multiple wives or harems is very rare in Egypt, since a very small percentage of the population is able to support many wives and children.

But the Egyptian is not obliged to support his mistress, therefore, they often start several parallel relationships with an Orphi contract, without committing themselves to anything. An Orphia contract is a marriage contract between two persons that does not require official certification. It gives the right to live together between a man and a woman. This form of engagement is secret and may be subject to public censure. Orphi marriage is temporary and can be dissolved at any time - this is the best option for Egyptians to lead an intimate life, without any obligations. At the same time, a man can secretly have several marriages. At any time, you can simply tear up the form of the concluded document and get away with it. In addition, before marriage, Egyptian men often visit prostitutes. But girls need to maintain their virginity until marriage.

Egyptian women are not allowed to marry men of other nationalities or religions (even Copts), while Egyptians are allowed to marry women of any nationality. This is due, first of all, to the fact that Egyptians do not have a surname as such, but add the father’s name to their name, and this happens only through the male line. Therefore, to preserve the family line, an Egyptian woman cannot marry men of other nationalities.

Egyptian Bedouins

The mysterious Bedouin people have long roamed the desert lands of Egypt. There are two large Bedouin clans living on the Red Sea coast: Al-Abbadi and Al-Maazi. To this day, in Egypt you can hear legends about fierce clashes between two tribes over water sources, which ended with the Great Meeting of the elders of both clans, at which the Word of Peace was pronounced. Bedouins never resort to resolving controversial issues with the help of the authorities, relying only on their elders. Bedouins try to avoid contact with modern society and live in the desert, far from cities, they do not visit hospitals and schools, and old people teach children to read the Koran. Women do only housework, while men hunt in the evenings and sit in the shade under awnings during the day.

Among the Egyptian Bedouins, matchmaking is quite interesting. The groom turns to the leader of the tribe and points to the girl he likes, speaking about his intentions. The girl is asked to make tea for everyone gathered. If the girl brings sweet tea to the young man, then she has given consent; if not, he should leave. Therefore, for the groom, the first sip of the served drink is very exciting. If, to the delight of the groom, the tea turns out to be sweet, then we talk about the bride price. This is where a very interesting moment begins - the future bride is valued like a horse for sale. The bride's relatives, wanting to get more bride price, extol her virtues, the groom's relatives, wanting to save money, look for flaws, for example: unhealthy teeth, weak hair, pimply skin, poor figure, etc. The Bedouin wedding itself takes place with ritual dances and a magnificent feast.

Egyptian family

For Egyptians, family is one of the most important values ​​in life. Egyptians perceive their family as a single whole that they must protect. Men feel responsible for their entire family, for the behavior of their parents, siblings and cousins, and other relatives. And the behavior of the wife is especially important, since the wife is the face of the husband.

Members of a large Egyptian family have common goals - they all manage the household together, work together, and solve all issues and problems together. But here there is an invisible, unique code of honor - “asabiya”, which strengthens social ties and regulates the responsibilities of family members. “Asabiya” requires an Egyptian man to protect his clan from threats and blood feuds of hostile families, and also imposes on the man the obligation to take revenge on those who offended his family. Every year, dozens of Egyptians lose their lives due to blood feuds and revenge for an offended relative. However, with the help of the unshakable law of blood feud, a lot of murders and crimes are prevented. For the most part, blood feud takes place in the villages of Egypt, but even in megacities it often remains a real threat.

The first “violin” in an Egyptian family, of course, is the man. A man should be free in his desires and actions, and a woman has no right to demand or control anything from him. Perhaps this is why almost all Egyptian marriages are very strong, because it is not customary for a woman to meddle in her husband’s affairs. Her job is “go, give, bring, put away.” And that's it!.

A wife cannot have male friends, period! No man (even the husband's friends) can come into the house if the husband is not at home at that time. This is not the case in Egypt. If a woman comes to visit her friend (and usually these are the wives of her husband’s friends), then she does not stay with her if her friend’s husband returns home. If the husband does not like his wife’s friend(s), then he can prohibit his wife from communicating with them without explaining the reasons. And the wife must obey.

In general, it is not customary to stay late as a guest here, just as it is not customary to abuse hospitality. Guests are never received in home clothes. Yes, and by the way, it is also not customary to feed guests in Egypt. Usually guests are offered only tea or coffee and sweets. A wife never serves her husband's friends - any self-respecting Arab will simply never allow his wife to do this. He himself will do everything that is needed.

Many families live in the same house for generations. Such traditions are especially typical for small towns and villages. A young wife must obey her mother-in-law; from the beloved daughter of her parents, she turns, at first, into a humiliated creature. A young woman who does not express respect for her mother-in-law is unlikely to find understanding with her husband. In the capital, more and more often, small families are separated from their parents and live separately.

Basically, Egyptian women are lazy, sit at home, cook food, watch TV all day or communicate with relatives who come to visit them.

The main thing with which a woman strengthens her position and who she relies on in a large family is her children, or rather, her sons. The more of them, the more influence she has, the more respect she has. Having children is the meaning of life and the meaning of marriage. Egyptian families usually have many children. Until now, Egyptians are more happy about the birth of boys than girls.

In the Egyptian mentality there is no strong emphasis on the development of children. Women do not devote all their time to children, do not read books with them, do not play games - children often do not have books and toys, especially educational ones. It is not customary to walk with children during the day, and there are no specially equipped parks or playgrounds on the streets. Very often, children do not have any kind of daily routine at all - they go to bed almost always after midnight or even in the morning. The educational process on the part of the mother and father is often completely absent, and comes down to the child simply knowing some postulates from the Koran and prayers.

Boys under 7 years of age grow up among women. At this age, as a rule, they undergo a ritual circumcision ceremony, which is considered the first step towards their inclusion in the society of adult men. Circumcision was known back in Pharaonic Egypt and among the ancient Jews. Circumcision is practiced in Egypt and Copts before the baptism of children.

In cities, children are circumcised by a doctor, in villages by a barber. He comes two days before the operation to cut the boy’s hair in a special way. The boy is washed, his palms and feet are painted with henna, and before the haircut, guests come and stick small coins on his face, which the barber takes for himself. Often, on the eve of surgery, a boy spends part of the day with peers and adults in the mosque.
Then the boy is dressed smartly, in loose women's clothes (!!!) - so that the child is not jinxed, then they put him on a horse or mule and, accompanied by friends, noisily ride him around the village. If circumcision is performed on two people at once (reduces costs), then two boys are mounted on a horse or mule. In the evening, the boy's parents throw a big feast and the guests present the boy with gifts. After circumcision, boys are taught to work and are taken to Friday prayers.

Education in Egypt is not doing well. Egyptian children attend free schools (for Egyptians only), where there are often 50 or more students in one class. From the age of 11, girls study separately from boys. After school, children often engage in begging or simply wandering the streets aimlessly.

Egyptians turn only to relatives for advice and help. The connections between relatives are very close, and the patronage of the entire family over each of them remains unchanged. Family supports financially, family improves life, family helps in difficult times. It is not customary to discuss family problems with outsiders; everything remains in the family; it is not customary to tell anyone anything. No matter what happens, be patient, and do not defame your loved one.

Egyptians do not hesitate to discuss the most intimate details in front of children, and women express themselves even more openly on this topic than men. This is a kind of instinctive folk form of their sex education.

Divorce in Egypt is rare, and this is associated with significant material costs. Having said the word “talaq” (translated as “divorce”) three times in the presence of witnesses, the Egyptian breaks off the marriage. If you say the word “talaq” once, you can still return to each other. If you say “talaq” twice, the same. But after the third time, you won’t be able to return to your ex-wife. She will have to marry another man, after which that man will also have to say “talaq” (that is, divorce) three times. Then comes the period of iddah (waiting period), which lasts three periods of monthly purifications. Shariah requires compliance with iddah to ascertain whether a divorced wife is pregnant or not. If a woman suddenly becomes pregnant, she stays in her ex-husband’s house until the birth, since the child belongs to the father. Only after iddah (or childbirth) can a woman be reunited with her first husband and live together again. These are Egyptian traditions - and this is a kind of punishment for rash actions. If, nevertheless, the divorce is final, the woman leaves the house with what she is wearing, which is why Muslim women are always hung with gold.

The husband can dissolve the marriage at any time and for any reason. But a woman has the right to demand a court ruling on divorce if, for example, he did not pay the dowry agreed upon in the marriage contract or did not provide funds for her maintenance. Divorce in a family must be formalized. Although the woman can file for divorce first if:

The husband does not provide financially for the family;

If the husband has sexual impotence;

If the husband has left and has not communicated with his family for more than 4 months;

In case of mental disorder in the husband.

The wife must prove these facts in court by bringing several witnesses. After a divorce, an Egyptian must support both his ex-wife and child, providing them with housing until the child turns 7-9 years old. After this, the child is raised by the father, and the wife leaves home. A woman, as a rule, belongs to another clan or tribe, and the children belong to the father and inherit from him. For the woman's relatives, children are considered strangers.A widowed or divorced man can remarry, but it is difficult for a widow or divorced woman to remarry.

Egyptian women

It's not easy for women in Egypt. Women are given a secondary place here. Her life is directly connected with numerous “don’ts” and “under no circumstances.” An Egyptian woman, first of all, is a stronghold of home comfort; family and children are her destiny. The key to her happiness is a good husband, a loving and true Muslim. A woman should always say “YES” to her husband.

Women in Egypt are deprived of all social activity. Studying is not important for a woman; only school education is considered compulsory. An Egyptian woman can get the opportunity to study with the permission of her parents or husband. But it is unlikely to work. In some towns and villages, a woman working outside the home is considered a great disgrace to the family: it means that her father or husband does not have enough money to provide for the family. Women usually spend all their time at home with their children. This is where they pray, since they cannot go to the mosque with men, unless the mosque has a separate prayer hall with a separate entrance from the street, in other words, a woman is not allowed to enter the mosque through the same door as a man.

If the husband allows, the woman will be able to devote her free time to hobbies, and go to the mosque with him on holidays. But wherever she appears, she is obliged to wear a hijab, because the hijab is considered a symbol of female modesty. He rarely takes it off even at home. Unless she is alone or with her relatives. Some deeply religious women, instead of a hijab, wear a niqab or burqa and a head veil, also black, covering their face. The blanket only has slits for the eyes. On his hands are black gloves made of thin material.

Egyptian men are very jealous. They cannot stand it when strangers (and even non-strangers) men look at their woman. So a woman dresses up at home for her husband, and goes out even without makeup, like a gray mouse. And Allah forbid, if anyone looks at her, she will still remain guilty. And if the husband decides that it is better for his wife not to go out at all, so as not to disturb his wounded soul, then the Egyptian woman will humbly sit at home.

Egyptians have an opinion that if a girl is ugly or simply scary on the street, then at home she is very beautiful. Therefore, every self-respecting Egyptian tries to “disfigure” his wife’s appearance. They put clothes on the girls, under the hijab, which makes the figure fat and shapeless, they put thick lush eyebrows on their faces, they tighten their chests with bandages, and this is only a small part of the tricks that jealous Egyptian men go to.

Egyptian women do not make friends with men, they do not even talk to them on the street, even if one of them just needs to know the way. Under no circumstances should you approach or touch a man (even an acquaintance). Nowhere except on university campuses is it encouraged for unmarried men and unmarried women to interact.

A woman should not appear on the street alone. She can only go outside if accompanied by her husband or relatives. When talking with any man, relative, friend or colleague, a woman should not look him straight in the eyes or smile - this is not perceived as a sign of politeness, but as a woman’s promiscuity and availability.

On the street, Egyptian women are not allowed to look in the mirror, adjust their makeup, or touch their hair to check their hairstyle. This characterizes them as women of easy virtue.

A woman who is alone at home should not allow strangers into her apartment. Even if there is a breakdown, a leak in the house, the electricity goes out, or something else happens, the woman will have to wait for her husband to return, or one of her relatives should be with her in the apartment, then she can call a repairman. When the master comes to the house, the front door must remain open, and the woman must go into another room and remain there until the master finishes his work. Everything is done to ensure that no one sees someone else’s wife.

Honoring her husband is the main activity for an Egyptian woman. If she hasn’t washed the floors or cooked the food, it means she neglects her husband and doesn’t respect him. It is not customary here to reproach a husband for poor provision for the family - a man cannot forgive such an accusation, even if it is true, because with these words the wife declares the man’s lack of masculinity. As a rule, such a “bad” wife is kicked out of the house forever and irrevocably, and her future fate is bitter and unenviable. She is considered a woman who disgraced her family. Often her relatives also turn away from such a woman.

But, strict requirements for women do not mean that Egyptians treat them badly. A Muslim man also has a hard time; it is he who has many responsibilities that must be fulfilled if he is a true believer.

Egyptian men

Due to the fact that Egyptian girls are raised in extremely strict Muslim traditions, and behind a black hijab it is impossible to see not only their figures, but their faces, half-naked European women vacationing at resorts represent for local men all facets of sexual feelings and emotions. Egyptian men have romance and a lifelong state of falling in love in their blood. Almost the entire population of resort towns has affairs with tourists. The very atmosphere of any resort is predisposed to romance and tritely suggests thoughts of sex, and it is impossible to have a non-burdensome affair with an Egyptian girl for the sake of sexual relations, due to the religious views of both men and women of Egypt. Therefore, the favorite targets of Egyptian men are resort girls.

Egyptians, like no one else, know how to speak and listen with their eyes, creating an atmosphere of languor and charm around women. And northern women’s souls melt under the admiring glances of the Egyptians. After just a few days of staying in Egypt, even the most “frozen” woman blossoms like a flower under the summer sun. Any white woman in Egypt feels great because she is looked upon here as a goddess. Regardless of age, a 20-year-old or a 70-year-old white woman can be called out on the street and shout “Helva!” ("Gorgeous!").

Egyptian macho men throw so many ardent glances at unmarried resort girls. If an Egyptian has spotted you, it will not be easy to get rid of him. Any weapon is used - passionate speeches, passionate hugs, a sea of ​​compliments, promises of love to the grave, pity, in the end. The Egyptian will try everything that can be applied on his “victim”. And the abundance of resort girls, replacing each other every two weeks, allows them to hone their skills for years. Every day planes arrive with tourists from northern countries, where men are stingy with compliments. And in Egypt they give compliments and promise eternal love under the palm trees, and as you know, women love with their ears... It rarely comes to true love, more often it is limited to a holiday romance and a pleasant pastime. In addition, the Egyptian macho most likely has a wife and children outside the hotel.

Egyptians consider the behavior of Western women to be quite free and a woman’s excessive friendliness and openness can be interpreted incorrectly. European ladies often willingly extend their hand to Egyptian men at the moment of acquaintance, for example, and then become indignant that the Egyptians are so arrogant. The thing is that in Egypt it is customary that if a woman allows herself to be touched, even by the hand, then everything else can be touched too. European women here are considered easily accessible; for example, an accepted invitation to a disco or a cafe will definitely be regarded as an agreement to share the night with him. Simply offering a woman sex in Egypt is akin to an insult. Therefore, literally from the very moment they meet, ladies hear the standard set of phrases: “you are the most beautiful,” “I have never loved anyone before you,” “marry me.” The importunity of local men quickly becomes boring.

Egyptians look at a foreign woman not only as a sex object, but also as a cute wallet. After all, it’s so nice, in addition to positive emotions and sex, to receive from an enthusiastic young lady a mobile phone of the latest model, which the Egyptian himself would have saved for several months. There are known cases of rich tourists being scammed out of money, who even bought an apartment for their Egyptian boyfriend, and some wealthy ladies opened a business in the name of their macho man. How pleasant it will be for him later to drive a new car to where his Egyptian wife and children live and show off photographs, for example, of his own restaurant. And such cases are far from uncommon.

Still, women on holiday in Egypt should behave more carefully and not wear too revealing clothes, especially if they are traveling alone. According to Muslim laws, it is believed that if a woman is uncovered and some parts of her body are exposed, especially her stomach, then she is easily accessible. You can often see Egyptians shouting something in Arabic at the “naked” tourists passing by on the streets of the city. In fact, if the tourists realized that they were shouting after them, they would have heard that these were very offensive words.

Egyptians love children very much. And, if not for state control, they would have had significantly more children. They cannot pass by someone else’s child indifferently - they will definitely pat him on the cheek, tickle him, or treat him to candy and will definitely ask him what his name is and how old he is. Egypt is like a big kindergarten, children here don’t hear the word “no”, they can do anything here. Children are served food and drinks first.

For Egyptians, it is considered shameful to wash or dust off your car. People around him will consider such a man incompetent or will think that he is the driver of the car owner. Therefore, many Egyptians, even if their car is slightly dirty, tend to go straight to the car wash.

Religion of Egypt

Religion is the main woman of the Egyptian man. Friday is a day off for all Muslims. Until Egyptians perform Friday prayers, no cafes or shops will be open. In general, it is better not to disturb Egyptians on Fridays. Friday is a holy day and this day was created for prayers.

Ramadan is a holy month for Muslims around the world, a month of great abstinence. This is equivalent to Lent, only in a more strict form. In the month of Ramadan, night becomes day. Egyptians fast all day and break their fast only after sunset. At this time, public life comes to a standstill; government institutions are open only from 10.00 to 14.00. During this holy month, it is forbidden to eat anything from sunrise to sunset. Egyptians can only eat after the sun has set. On the table you can see both traditional dishes and sweets that are prepared only for the holidays. After evening prayer, everyone gathers at the table with food in a narrow family circle, or invite relatives and spend time talking and eating until sunrise. At the end of Ramadan, a period called Aid el-Adha begins, during which even more delicious dishes are prepared and sheep are always slaughtered. An important point is to smear the walls of the house with the blood of sacrificial rams; it is believed that this will protect the house and the people living in it from evil spirits (and again the omnipresent Egyptian superstition). During Aid el-Adha, everyone should buy themselves something new to wear. If the family does not have income, then clothes are bought only for children.

Of course, it is better to avoid visiting Egypt on this holiest holiday for Muslims. And, nevertheless, if you unknowingly came to rest in Egypt during Ramadan, do not consume any food or drinks (especially alcohol) on the streets of cities and resorts (outside hotels). Failure to comply with this rule may result in detention by the police for disrespect for laws and traditions. In general, you should abstain from alcoholic drinks outside hotels, and not only during the month of Ramadan. There is prohibition in Egypt. And for appearing drunk in a public place, you can easily be detained by the police (by the way, they are very corrupt in Egypt, so the fines will be impressive).

Married to an Egyptian

Egyptians are a southern and hot-tempered people, and therefore they love women very much. Since Egyptian resorts have long been chosen by the beautiful half of humanity from Russia and the CIS countries, today marriage with an Egyptian no longer seems something fantastic and unrealistic. As a rule, relationships between two people begin on vacation, and Egyptian holiday romances extremely rarely end with the woman’s departure. Passionate SMS, declarations of love fly thousands of kilometers away, and now you are being invited to get married. You leave everything and everyone behind and fly to the land of pyramids on the wings of love!

If you have fallen into the web of Arab love and are thinking about connecting your life with an Egyptian man and moving to live in Egypt, it will be very useful for you to know some of the features of life with a man in Egypt.
First of all, when you move in with your lover, be sure to draw up an Orphie contract. This paper is signed by a lawyer in the presence of two male witnesses, is not registered anywhere, and, in fact, does not impose any obligations. Without this document, you cannot even hold hands on the street, let alone visit your loved one in his apartment. If the documents are checked, if there is no Orphi contract, the case for the Egyptian could end in big problems with the police.

The Orfi contract can be legalized in court, after which the newlyweds receive an A3 paper in Arabic, which states that from now on they are officially husband and wife. The process of legalizing an Orphi contract takes 1 - 3 months, depending on the workload of the court. But it is worth remembering that even a legalized Orphi contract is not accepted as evidence of marriage on the territory of other states. In order for a marriage to become legal, it is also necessary to enter into it either on the territory of the state of which the wife is a subject, or to contact the embassy or consulate of your country in Egypt.

When entering into a marriage, a prenuptial agreement is often concluded, although in the event of a divorce, controversial issues (children, property) are resolved solely on the basis of Egyptian law and the marriage contract will become invalid if it conflicts with the law. It makes sense to include in the contract compensation for the wife in the event of a divorce. Financial issues should be monitored very carefully, since an Egyptian can easily have more than one wife.

Even if your lover does not pray 5 times a day and does not observe Ramadan, this does not mean that he does not care about religion. All Egyptians are deeply religious people. He will periodically tell you about religion, dreaming in his heart that one day you will, after all, accept his faith, he will begin to insist on changing your wardrobe, or at least demand to cover your arms, knees and chest, then he will begin to demand that you wore a scarf on your head, and then you will have to quit your job and become a housewife.

Be prepared that your chosen one will have a lot of relatives: brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, and, of course, the most sacred thing - mom and dad. He will call all of them several times a day and consult on any issues, and if he doesn’t call, then they themselves will be happy to meddle in your life with their advice, and often come to visit you with the whole large family. In addition, a decent part of your family budget will go into the pocket of the “family”, because according to Egyptian customs, sons are obliged to financially support not only their parents, but also their unmarried sisters.

Mom and dad are sacred to an Egyptian. Mom’s word is generally the law, so if his parents don’t like you, there won’t be a wedding! And if you nevertheless put a ring on your finger, then you will still have to honor his mother more than your own.

Be prepared that no matter where you go, all your movements will be reported to your Egyptian husband. If you offended someone, behaved incorrectly, did something wrong, no one will say anything to your face - they will simply call your man and complain. Egyptians generally do not say what they think to their faces, especially women. They will smile sweetly in your face, and discuss you behind your back and spit in your direction.

Most often, having married an Egyptian, a European woman, in order to fit into the surrounding society, under pressure from her husband, is forced to change religion by converting to Islam. However, a change of religion does not equate her in rights and status with a native Egyptian woman, who is protected by the law of the country and Sharia in any case. Europeans live here at their own peril and risk, without any support from Egyptian legislation.

If your chosen one is an Egyptian Christian, then you shouldn’t relax either. Christians in Egypt are even more religious than Muslims. They also observe all fasts and traditions. In addition, in Egypt divorce is prohibited for Christians, so it is very difficult to marry them, because it is certainly for life!

If you plan to throw in your lot with an Egyptian and stay to live in Egypt, you, in any case, will have to reconsider your views on life, accept their rules of behavior in society, change your value system and worldview. And remember: the Egyptian will constantly try to make you an Egyptian woman, subject to all the traditions and dogmas of Egyptian society.

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