Next: about 15 Aug 2027
Wafaa el-Nil
The ancient celebration of the Nile flood: once a bride of clay was offered to the river, today there are boats, songs and feasts.
When is Wafaa el-Nil in 2027?
Wafaa el-Nil 2027 is on Sunday, 15 August 2027. The date follows the moon or a local calendar, so it can move by a day. Other years: 2026, Saturday, 15 August 2026; 2028, Tuesday, 15 August 2028.
About Wafaa el-Nil
Wafaa el-Nil, the "fulfilment of the Nile", celebrates the annual flood of the river, which for thousands of years brought the silt that fed Egypt's fields. In ancient times the festival was the time for offerings of gratitude to Hapi, the god of the flood. The medieval accounts tell how, when the river reached a sufficient level, a gate in the canal of Cairo was opened and the water rushed in, with processions and songs. A legend, probably invented later, spoke of a young bride being sacrificed to the river, and it was replaced by a clay doll. Since the building of the High Dam the flood has stopped, but the day is still celebrated with boat trips and music on the river, and fish and other riverside foods.
Wafaa el-Nil dates: 2026, 2027, 2028
| Year | Wafaa el-Nil date |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Saturday, 15 August 2026 |
| 2027 | Sunday, 15 August 2027 |
| 2028 | Tuesday, 15 August 2028 |
This date follows the moon or a local calendar and can move by a day, so check with a local source nearer the time.
What is eaten
- fish
- molokhia
- sweets
Also part of it, and being written: Nile (The river honoured.), Hapi (The ancient god of the flood.), Aswan High Dam (The dam that ended the flood.).
Written by the EveryParampara desk with AI assistance. Background: "Wafaa El-Nil" on Wikipedia. Customs differ from place to place and family to family. If this is your tradition and we have it wrong, tell us.