A Different Drummer

So its Christmas time, and unexplainably, Egypt is really getting in on the act. Even though it is a predominantly Muslim country, whose 10 million Christians celebrate the Orthodox Christmas in early January, rather than the Western Chrismas on Dec 25, people are really putting in the effort.

There's people in the streets everywhere selling Santa hats and tinsel and tree decorations. Christmas trees are up all over the place, and theres some pretty impressive light displays going on in downtown Cairo. As a white western looking type people automatically give me a "merry christmas" as I walk past - today someone with less than perfect English told me to "have good Jesus day". His intentions were in the right place, bless him.

Theres plenty of funny little things to notice. Like the stores selling "Christmas Cake" - chocolate cake with cherries on top - and the Christmas tree on the corner of my street, which is decorated with the traditional Christmas items - potatoes, chilli peppers, barbie dolls and bananas. Salvador Dali would have a field day with that one. Its still pretty impressive though. I know if Aussies had a go at Ramadan we would screw it up royally.

I'm not certain of this, but I think a lot of the "western" Christmas celebration in Egypt comes from the western aspirations of the middle/upper classes. Its another way to live like the people in the movies or on the TV, which is something people here are really big on. I mean people celebrate Halloween in Australia and I'm pretty sure that comes 100% from watching American kids doing it on TV.