Coptic Christmas

Why 7 January

The Coptic Orthodox Church, Egypt's Christian church, follows its own calendar, inherited from ancient Egypt. Christmas falls on 29 Kiahk, which corresponds to 7 January in the Gregorian calendar used in Europe. In 2027 the Feast of the Nativity falls on Thursday 7 January, and Epiphany, which the Copts call Theophany, on Tuesday 19 January.

7 January is an official public holiday in Egypt, for all Egyptians.

Forty-three days of preparation

Christmas is prepared by the Nativity Fast, which lasts 43 days and begins in late November. During this time the faithful give up animal products; fish is generally allowed. The fast ends with the Christmas liturgy.

The main celebration takes place on the evening of 6 January and continues into the night. Since 2018, Coptic Pope Tawadros II has presided over it at the Cathedral of the Nativity, in the New Administrative Capital east of Cairo, the largest church in the country. Ministers, governors, representatives of al-Azhar, the great institution of Egyptian Sunni Islam, and diplomats attend.

After the mass, families break the fast. The festive meal features meat, eggs and butter, and often fatta, a dish of rice, toasted bread soaked in broth, garlic and vinegar, topped with meat. On Christmas Day people visit family and exchange kahk, small shortbread biscuits dusted with icing sugar.

Coptic Christmas for travellers

There is no show to buy a ticket for: this is a religious and family celebration. You notice it mostly in Christian neighbourhoods and around the churches.

• In Cairo, Coptic Old Cairo, inside the walls of the Roman fortress of Babylon, brings together the Hanging Church, built in the late 4th century, and the Coptic Museum, opened in 1910; these are the places where Egypt's Christian history is easiest to read.
• The monasteries of Wadi Natrun, in the desert between Cairo and Alexandria, make a day trip from Cairo.
• Attending a mass: Sabaro recommends going through a guide or a Coptic host, and wearing clothes that cover shoulders and knees. Christmas liturgies are long.

On 7 January government offices and banks close; Sabaro recommends checking the day's opening hours with your guide.

Early January in Egypt

Coptic Christmas falls in the high season, just after the European end-of-year holidays. In Cairo, days are mild, around 19 °C maximum in January, and nights cool, around 10 °C: a jacket helps for the evening liturgy. Cairo is 2 hours ahead of London.

In Luxor, the Egyptian Marathon takes place on 8 January 2027, the day after Christmas, on the west bank. For a stay in Cairo, the Sabaro selection offers the Marriott Mena House, at the foot of the pyramids, and, by the Nile, the Four Seasons Nile Plaza and the Fairmont Nile City, closer to Old Cairo.