People and Culture of Egypt

Folklore:

Some of Egypt’s most popular legends are stories of liberation from foreign rule and domination. Ahmad Arabi is famous for his opposition to British and French interference in Egypt’s finances in the late 19^th century, and Sa’ad Zaghlool is famous for his opposition to British domination during the early 20^th century.

Most folklore in Muslim countries tell stories of important figures in religious history.

Another item of folklore commonly believed in some Islamic communities, including Egypt, is that evil spirit, called Jinn, live in haunted places. Jinn are demons that are belived to take on the form of an animal or human. Some Egyptians also believe in the “evil eye” and take measures to prevent being inflicted by it.

taken from: www.greatmirror.com

Family Life:

The family is the centre of social organization. Every Egyptian is expected to get married and produce children in order to continue the family lineage. When a child is born, the parents’ new role are acknowledged with new titles: The father becomes Abu “father of” the new child, and the mother becomes Um “mother of” the new child. Thus, the parents of a child named Ahmad are known as (Abu Ahmad) and (Um Ahmad), and it’s stays fixed to the oldest son.

Interpersonal Relations:

Egyptians are very friendly people, and even the poorest among them will show hospitality to a stranger. The Egyptian greeting is typically “as-Salam A’laikom,” or (peace be with you,) and the response is “wa ‘alaikom as-Salam,” or (and peace be with you as well.) Egyptians shake hands upon greeting, although two men or two women might kiss on the cheek. An unmarried man and woman, however, would not kiss due to Muslim and social mores, and a very pious man and woman might not even shake hands.

In formal situations, a man is referred to as Sayyed (Mr.), a married woman as Saiyydah (Mrs.), and a single women as Anisa (Miss.). Anyone with doctorate or Ph.D. or a medical degree is referred to respectfully as “Doctor”, even in informal settings.

Children must show respect for their elders and can never refer to an adult by his/her first name without attaching “aunt” or “uncle” to the name. In some areas, “Abla” (a person with knowledge or teacher) is referred to the big sister.

taken from: www.greatmirror.com

Jokes, light comments and smart replies are many facets of the Egyptian sense of humor, which, in Egypt, is a way of life.

Egyptians laugh at many things. The contradictions of daily life provide them with plenty of material. Every region may also have a unique taste of humor, so what you hear in Cairo would be different from that in Luxor or Alexandria. But all Egyptian jokes aim at one thing only: a smile on the face of the receiver. A laugh is a bonus.

One such joke told by journalists (some say it is an actual story) is the obituary which came in very late one night to be published the following morning. The editor was tired and in a hurry to get home, so he wrote a note on it saying "only if there is a space". There was.

The following morning the obituary was published that Mr. xx died recently.. may God let him into paradise.. only if there is a space!!"

- One kid to another :"Everybody stands up for my father at work".
- What does your father do?
- He is a judge.
- So what. People bow their heads to my dad at work, including your dad!
- Wow, what does he do?
- He is a barber.

A tourist asks
- Can you tell the quickest way to town please?
-Are you walking or driving?
- Driving.
- That IS the quickest way!

- A man who sells kebab got married. On his wedding night he found his bed sprinkled with parsley!

A man walked into a supermarket and demanded half a head of lettuce. A boy working there told him that he has to buy the whole lettuce, but the man insists on half a lettuce. The boy went to the manager at the back of the shop and said
- A stupid man out there wants half a lettuce.. then realizing that the man is right behind him, added :..
"and this gentleman here wants to buy the other half!.