In pics: Egyptians celebrate Sham El-Nessim

CAIRO – 9 April 2018: Thousands of Egyptians went on Monday to celebrate the Pharaonic festival of Sham El-Nessim that marks the beginning of spring in national parks and gardens.


Egyptian families celebrate Sham El-Nessim at Orman Park- Egypt Today/Hazem Abdel-Samad



Egyptians are going for cruise in the Nile bus during Sham El-Nessim celebration - Egypt Today/Amr Moustafa

The zoo and national parks opened for free for Egyptians to enjoy the sunny day, amid tightened security measures. The Giza Zoo and Cairo’s Orman and Al-Azhar Parks saw a high visitor turnout. Meanwhile, dozens of Egyptians cruised down the Nile on the Nile bus, one of Egyptian cheapest and most entertaining means of transportation.


Children play during Sham El-Nessim celebration at Orman park on Monday - Egypt Today/Hazem Abdel-Samad

The Ministry of Interior deployed women police in the areas where crowds gather nationwide, particularly in Cairo, to prevent harassment.


Egyptians enjoy horse and buggy during Sham El-Nessim celebration in Cairo - Egypt Today/Amr Moustafa

In the Mediterranean cities, the number of beach goers increased on Monday. Egyptians in Ismailia and Alexandria flocked to the beaches, while others spent the day cruising the Mediterranean Sea in Suez governorate, and taking rounds in Ismailia’s Timsah Lake.


Beach goers enjoy Sham El-Nessim in Alexandria - Egypt Today/Jacqueline Mounir

A carnival of flowers, with a total of 50 cars decorated with flowers and roses, was held in Ismailia to choose the best decorated car; the winner was the car of Tell El Kebir city.


A girl holds flowers in a carnival of flowers in Ismailia governorate - Egypt Today/Mohamed Awad



A car decorated with flowers at a carnival of flowers in Ismailia governorate - Egypt Today/Mohame Awad


After a six-year hiatus, El Arbaeen District Flower Show opened on Monday in celebration of Sham El-Nessim in Suez governorate.


Flower show in Suez Canal - Egypt Today/Sayyed Noun

In Upper Egypt, archaeological sites, particularly in Luxor and Aswan, saw an increasing number of local tourists. A total of 140 public parks in Aswan opened for the Egyptian families; other people cruised down the Nile on feluccas (traditional wooden sailing boats).


Egyptian families going for Nile cruising on Sham El-Nessim day - Egypt Today/Abdullah Salah


Sham El-Nessim is an old spring festival celebrated by the Egyptians since 2,700 BC (the third dynasty of the Old Kingdom).


A group of girls are performing hula hooping belly in Marsa Matrouh governorate on Sham El-Nessim - Egypt Today


The festival is related to the agricultural background of ancient Egyptians. The name Sham El-Nessim or (inhaling the breeze) is derived from the Coptic language, which was derived from the ancient Egyptian language. The original pronunciation is Tshom Ni Tshom, which means garden meadows.

Egypt’s public hospitals and clinics are on high alert for possible food poisoning cases, caused by salted fish which is the main dish on Egyptians’ tables on Sham El-Nessim.