Egyptians Celebrate Sham el-Nessim Amid 'Infidel' Comments Made by Salafis

Photo: Coptic Cairo

Today, Egyptians celebrate the Spring Festival, or Shame el-Nessim, an ancient Egyptian festival in which Egyptians celebrated the New Year and the start of the spring season.

Copts originally found this day always came during Lent, so they postponed it so that it could be celebrated on the day following the celebration of Easter. Since then, Egyptians have continued to celebrate it on the day following the celebration of Easter.

While it is deemed an official state holiday, Salafists currently prohibit celebrating it, as it is regarded as a blasphemous rite. Read more

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