Sham Ennessim

Sham Ennessim (Arabic: شم النسيم, Sham Al Nassim or Sham an-Nassim; Egyptian Arabic: Sham Ennesim, IPA: [ˈʃæmm ennɪˈsiːm]) is an Egyptian national festival marking the beginning of spring, as it originates from the ancient Egyptian Shemu festival. It is celebrated by all Egyptians and is announced by the state as a public holiday.^[1] Sham Ennessim always falls on Easter Monday, which is the day after Easter, in accordance with the Coptic Orthodox Church.

The festival has been nationally celebrated by all the Egyptians since ancient times,^[1] as it is considered a national festival in Egypt. Its history goes back to ancient Egyptian times, as it was related to the agricultural background of the ancient Egyptians, originating from Shemu.^[1] Sham Ennessim is an official holiday in modern Egypt.

The main features of the festival are:^[1]

• Egyptians spend all day out picnicking in any space of green, public gardens, on the Nile, or at the zoo.
• Traditional food eaten on this day consists mainly of fesikh (a fermented, salted and dried grey mullet), lettuce, scallions or green onions, and lupin beans.
• Coloring boiled eggs, then eating and gifting them.

On that day ... the modern Egyptians say that lettuce represents hopefulness at the beginning of the spring. Eggs are used to represent the renewal of life in the season of the spring. People dye the eggs in various colors in a tradition that goes back to the ancient Egyptians who were probably the first to introduce this practice. Salted fish represents fertility and welfare.^[1]