Christmas in Egypt — Coptic Celebrations
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Christmas in Egypt — Coptic Celebrations
Egypt celebrates Christmas on January 7th (Coptic Christmas). Experience one of the most ancient Christian traditions in the world — midnight mass at ancient churches, family celebrations, and unique Egyptian hospitality.
What Actually Happens
Coptic Christmas falls on 7 January, and the service that matters is the midnight liturgy on the night of the 6th. It is sung in Coptic — the last living form of the ancient Egyptian language — with incense, chanting and candlelight in churches that have stood for more than a thousand years.
The Hanging Church in Old Cairo, built above a Roman gatehouse in the 3rd century, is the best known. St Mark’s Cathedral in Abbassia holds the largest service, led by the Pope of the Coptic Church.
The 43-day fast that precedes it ends at the close of the liturgy, and the meal that follows is the centre of the family celebration.
Historical Background
The Coptic Orthodox Church traces its founding to Saint Mark the Evangelist in Alexandria around 42 AD, making it one of the oldest Christian communities in the world.
Copts follow the Julian calendar, which places Christmas on 7 January. The liturgy preserves language and music that predate Islam in Egypt by six centuries.
Old Cairo holds the densest concentration of early Christian sites anywhere — the Hanging Church, the Church of St Sergius said to shelter the Holy Family, and the Coptic Museum, all within a few streets.
Key Highlights
Day Schedule
Practical Information
Insider Tips
Dress modestly — shoulders and knees covered. Women may be asked to cover their hair in some churches.
Arrive by 9:00 PM. The Hanging Church is small and fills quickly on Christmas Eve.
Photography during the liturgy is discouraged. Ask before taking any picture inside.
The service is long — three hours or more. Sitting through part of it is perfectly acceptable.
January nights in Cairo are cold. Bring a jacket for the wait outside.
7 January is a public holiday in Egypt; museums and offices are closed.
How to Get There
See It for Yourself
