(Brilliant!) Ahram Online, by Zeinab El-Gundy , Friday 24 Dec 2021 (Link: Lights and joy all around: It's Christmas time in Shubra)
You know it's that time of the year when you see all those lights hanging throughout Shubra's main commercial streets, on the buildings, and across shop windows. It's Christmas time.
Santa figures for sale standing at San Ibram shop for Christmas decorations in Cairo, Egypt Photo: Zeinab El-Gundy)
Christmas in Shubra - like other parts of the country - is celebrated twice. The Coptic Orthodox community, which makes up 90 percent of Egypt's Christian population, celebrates Christmas on 7 January according to the Coptic Calendar. Smaller Christian denominations in Egypt - Catholics, Coptic Catholics, Protestants and Evangelicals - celebrate Christmas on 25 December, according to the Gregorian Calendar.
Colourful lights, religious icons, and ornaments that exude the Christmas spirit stay alive on Shubra's streets for several weeks before and after the holidays.
One finds the highlight of the Christmas celebrations on Shubra's main streets takes place on famous Teraa Al-Bolakiya Street, where three gigantic Christmas trees stand, including the biggest Christmas tree in the whole district.
The tallest Christmas tree of the three was gifted to the constituency of Shubra from MP Ehab El-Tamawy, a leading member of the Mostaqbal Watan Party and Deputy Chairman of the Constitutional and Legislative Affairs Committee at the House of Representative , according to a plate on it.
This gigantic Christmas tree and its two sisters - who tower on the opposite side of the street - were designed and made by Amir Ghattas, the owner of the largest two Christmas decoration shops in Teraa Al-Bolakia Street: San Abram bookstore and shop.
San Abram for Priesthood Clothes traditionally sells Coptic Orthodox priesthood attires but gained wider fame for its Christmas decorations merchandise.
Ahram Online missed Mr Ghattas when this writer visited his store, but found the staff on duty extremely busy with customers buying all sorts of Christmas decorations for prices cheaper than in other areas in Cairo.
Besides San Abram, there are dozens of small shops throughout the long commercial streets of the district selling Christmas decorations also at competitive prices.
Locally-made short and medium-size Christmas trees range in price from EGP 100 to EGP 300. The same goes for locally-made Christmas wreaths.
One of the shopkeepers explained to Ahram Online that local workshops start making Christmas trees and wreaths every year immediately after the end of celebrations of the Coptic Orthodox Christmas on 7 January.
Some Christmas ornaments are imported from China and are sold for prices between EGP 15 to EGP 50, depending on the size and shape.
Read on here.
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