Traditions of Cairo
The city of a thousand minarets, where Ramadan lanterns, koshari and Coptic feasts fill the calendar.
Cairo is the largest city in the Arab world and has been a centre of learning and trade for a thousand years. Its old quarters hold mosques, churches and a synagogue within walking distance. Egyptians of all faiths share customs of food and hospitality, and the city's festivals are full of lights, sweets and song.
Ramadan and the lantern
In Ramadan, the fanous, a lantern of tin and coloured glass, hangs in streets and homes. Tables of free food, mawa'id al-rahman, are set up for the hungry before the evening meal. At Sham el-Nessim, in spring, Egyptians of all faiths picnic and eat coloured eggs and salted fish. The Coptic Christmas is on January 7.
At the table
Koshari, rice, lentils and pasta with spiced tomato sauce and fried onions, is the national dish. Breakfast is ful medames, mashed fava beans, with falafel, called ta'ameya. Fatta is served at feasts, and kahk, biscuits dusted with sugar, are made for Eid. Hibiscus tea, karkadeh, is a favourite.
Signature traditions of Cairo
Also part of it, and being written: Sham El Nessim (The spring festival of Egypt.), Koshari (The national dish.), Ful medames (The fava bean dish.), Kahk (The Eid cookie.).
A trail idea for Cairo
- Khan el-Khalili Drink tea in El Fishawy cafe.
- Al-Azhar Mosque A mosque and university founded in 970.
- Coptic Cairo Visit the Hanging Church.
Written by the EveryParampara desk with AI assistance. Opening hours, markets and festival dates change; check locally before travelling. Customs differ from place to place and family to family. If this is your tradition and we have it wrong, tell us.
Photo credits on this page
The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.
- Sham Ennessim: Ikonact, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Fanous: Ibrahim.ID, CC BY-SA 3.0, source