Ancient Egyptian traditions continue to shape Sham El-Nessim celebrations

As Egypt prepares for Sham El-Nessim, historians and archaeologists highlight the festival's origins in Ancient Egypt. Originally known as "Shamo," the festival symbolized the renewal of life and nature, marking a national holiday dedicated to agriculture and nature during the spring equinox. Salah Al-Masekh, Director of Karnak Temples, noted that Ancient Egyptians were "Kings of Celebration," engaging in communal singing and grand processions with harps and dances. Traditional foods consumed during Sham El-Nessim carry deep symbolic meanings from ancient beliefs. Salted fish, such as mullet and tilapia, were abundant and preserved using methods depicted on temple walls. Eggs, or "Suhet," symbolized creation and rebirth, with coloring them being a ritual for life's renewal. Onions were linked to healing, believed to ward off diseases, as seen in a legend of a prince cured by inhaling them. Lettuce was associated with Min, the god of fertility, and green chickpeas, or "Malana," symbolized the harvest's peak. Archaeological expert Al-Tayeb Gharib stated that pharaonic celebrations, fishing, and banquets were meticulously documented on tomb and temple walls. Thousands of years later, Egyptian families continue these rituals, flocking to parks and the Nile banks, demonstrating the enduring spirit of the Pharaohs in every salted fish and colored egg shared during the spring festival.