National parks, gardens prepared ahead of Sham el-Nessim celebrations

CAIRO – 28 April 2019: Thousands of Egyptians will head to national parks and gardens across the country on Monday to celebrate the Pharaonic festival of Sham el-Nessim that translates in Arabic to [Smell the Breeze], and marks the beginning of spring season.

Giza Zoo, Cairo’s Orman , Al-Azhar Parks are prepared to receive visitors on Monday to enjoy sunny mornings amid tightened security measures announced ahead of celebrations.

Panorama Park on Fayoum Road in Giza will open for free for public during celebrations of Easter and Sham el-Nessim.

Meanwhile, dozens of Egyptians like to cruise down the Nile on Nile buses, one of Egyptian cheapest and most entertaining means of transportation.

Dakahlia Governor Kamal Sharobeem said that parks were prepared across the governorate to receive citizens.

Last year, El Arbaeen District Flower Show opened for the first time after a six-year hiatus, in celebration of Sham El-Nessim in Suez governorate.


Flower show in Suez Canal - Egypt Today/Sayyed Noun

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.