Egyptian Community

Eqyptian Community in Hamilton | General Information about Egypt

Eqyptian Community in Hamilton

• Population in Hamilton:

  Several thousand

• Major Languages:

  Arabic

• Religions:

  Islam and Christianity

Common Foods

Flat bread is the main part of an Egyptian meal. Foul or beans, and bread with cheese or eggs are also commonly eaten. Also, sweet pastries such as halawa and baklava are often served with tea to finish the meal. Chicken, beef, lamb, fish, vegetables with rice, salads and pickles are also common to Egyptian meals. The most commonly used vegetables are okra, eggplant and melokhia - a green leafy vegetable which is chopped and cooked in soups.

Traditional Clothing

For women, the typical clothing today is Cotton or linen galabya. Men's clothing is the Abayas. Children's clothing is the same as that of the adults.

Art and Culture

• Music:

  Classical music, folk songs and dancing are popular. Folk songs celebrate the different seasons or stages of the agricultural cycle. The Russian influence on Egyptian culture has led to the establishment of the Cairo Ballet Company.

• Literatyre:

  Egyptian literature covers a wide range of subjects, including poetry, fiction and much more.

• Visual Arts:

  Paintings of nature are popular.

• Musical Instruments:

  Drums, harps, flutes, rattles and other string instruments are native to Egypt. The rattle is used in pairs when dancing.

General Information about Egypt

• Country's Population:

  57 million

• Location:

  Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Libya and the Gaza Strip, and the Red Sea north of Sudan, and includes the Asian Sinai Peninsula

• Climate:

  desert; hot, dry summers with moderate winters

• Capital City:

  Cairo

• Holidays:

  Eid-al-Fit, Eid-al-Adha, Muharram, July 23, January 7

• Celebrations:

  Folk festivals

• Major Languages:

  French, Swahili and Sudanic tribal languages

• National Symbols:

  
  

  The flag has three horizontal bands of white, black and red, with an eagle emblem in the middle of the white stripe.

• National anthem:

  Bilady, bilady, bilady (My homeland, my homeland, my homeland)

  Egyptian song