The room was filled with guests—mothers, fathers, aunts, uncles, cousins, brothers, sisters, and friends. Suddenly the music started, and everyone got quiet. A woman in a long evening gown glided into the room with a tall, burning candle balanced in each hand. To protect her from the dripping wax, she held the candles in elaborately carved brass candelabras. She walked to the slow rhythm of the drumbeat. At times she swayed, her long billowing sleeves following the tempo. Then a group of teen girls dressed in beautiful party dresses appeared alongside teen boys in formal outfits. They stood in two lines. Each held a single tall candle with both hands. Their candleholders were not as elaborate, but the drip trays were wide enough to protect their young hands from the wax. Their candles were not yet lit. After the music stopped, the girls stood in a circle around the woman as she used her tall candles to light theirs.
Another woman crossed the threshold. She was not holding a candle, but in her arms was a chubby-cheeked baby sucking a pacifier. Dressed in a tiny white gown, he seemed happy to be there, although he was very little. The woman carrying the baby announced in a high-pitched voice that she wanted to introduce the baby to the world. This was the baby’s Sebou, or naming ceremony. The Sebou is now part of the American landscape. There are so many Egyptian Americans in New Jersey that special businesses plan Sebou ceremonies much like a wedding planner plans weddings. They take care of the music, food, and logistics and ensure that the newborn babies and their families are very pleased by the naming event.
Baby showers in the United States are held to celebrate the coming birth of a baby, but Egyptian Americans celebrate when the baby is a week old and around to join in the fun. Of course, the baby is born in a hospital and given a name, but the Sebou ceremony is a chance for friends and family to get together to sing, dance, and take turns holding the baby and welcoming him or her to the community. The baby is taken on a tour of his or her new home. Grandparents whisper instructions to the baby and tell him to not listen to any others. Of course, they are just joking to add humor to the festive occasion. Sebou means “week”; a week is seven days, and seven is a very important number to Egyptians. The baby often gets seven of everything as gifts. Sebou bags that contain seven candies and coins are given out to guests.
Another celebration important to Egyptian Americans is the Sham Eniseem, which takes place the Monday after Easter. It literally means “smelling the fresh breeze” and is commemorated by Muslims, Copts, and all other Egyptians. A specially prepared fish dish, called fiseekh, is traditionally eaten on this day. Christians around the world dye Easter eggs, but Egyptian Americans, whether Muslim or Christian, decorate and color boiled eggs to celebrate the rebirth of spring. Most Sham Eniseem celebrations are held in parks and are happy outdoor events. In the United States, the Monday after Easter is not a holiday as it is in Egypt, so most Egyptian Americans choose to celebrate the occasion on Easter Sunday.
Many of the Egyptian celebrations observed today are believed to have started centuries ago. Ancient Egyptian civilization is perhaps one of the best-preserved old civilizations, and many aspects of it can still be seen in contemporary Egyptian life. The study of ancient Egypt provides a wealth of information that people love to study the world over.
What pops up when you think of Egypt? For most people it is images of the pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx. Egyptian American and Egyptian Egyptologists (archaeologists who specialize in archaeological sites in Egypt) have been at the forefront in the research while preserving the dig sites from damage. Dr. Alexander Badawy (1913—1986) was a well-known Egyptian American who taught Egyptology in the United States. He led several excavations in his native country, and his book, A History of Egyptian Architecture, is used as a reference book around the world. To make it possible for American archaeologists to study the ancient civilization, he funded a program at Johns Hopkins University where Egyptologists can pursue their studies.
Have you ever played backgammon? The great-grandparent of backgammon is senet, a board game first played in Egypt and now popular around the world. The earliest picture of senet appears in a wall painting in the tomb of the Third-Dynasty pharaoh Hesy, from about 2650 BCE. The tomb of the great queen Nefertari (1295–1255 BCE) displays a scene of her playing the game. Cecil B. DeMille’s historic movie The Ten Commandments features a senet game between the queen and Moses called hounds and jackals. Since no records of rules have ever been found, there are many interpretations of how to play the game, and no one is really sure which interpretation is correct. The object of the game is to get each marker from square 1 through square 30 before your opponent does.
Covered work area
Pencil
Ruler
20- by 6-inch (or larger) piece of heavy-duty cardboard
Black permanent marker
Colored markers
4 craft sticks for dice
Acrylic paints in blue, gold, black, and red
Paintbrushes
Water for cleaning brushes
10 bottle caps for pawns or playing pieces
Egyptian hieroglyphics have fascinated people the world over. Hieroglyphics are the drawings and inscriptions found on the walls of the pyramids. The mystery of these words was unraveled when the Rosetta Stone, thousands of years old, was discovered and translated. In the 18th century, this stone was found in the Egyptian town of Rashid, which Europeans called Rosetta. The stone has two forms of Egyptian hieroglyphics and Greek carved into it. Because Greek is still a spoken language, scholars were able to translate the hieroglyphics, and the study of Egyptology was born. We learned a great deal about the pharaohs by learning to understand their language. But not only the symbols were interesting; so were the reliefs and paintings of people at festivals or participating in activities such as dancing and writing. The images gave modern people a glimpse into the lives of these early people and even their musical instruments. In some cases, the pictures documented the earliest use of instruments such as the reed flute and harp. The harp is the foundation for more modern instruments, including the piano. In fact, a piano is a type of harp that is positioned sideways inside a wooden body! Like other Egyptian inventions, the harp really traveled around the world.
When we think of bagpipes or harps, we think of Ireland and Scotland. However, these instruments were traded to ancient people in the British Isles by the early Phoenicians, who traded items made in the Middle East to other parts of the world. Musical instruments attributed to the ancient Egyptians include drums, windpipes, and string instruments. Harps are considered the oldest stringed instruments. Hieroglyphics dating back 5,000 years show harps of various sizes. Some had 12 or 15 strings, while others had 19. They were played upright or upside down, with tuning keys at the bottom.
Adult supervision required
3 chopsticks Scotch tape
Yarn
Scissors
Hot-glue gun
Gold acrylic paint
Paintbrush
8 small rubber bands
Famous dancers Margot Fonteyn and Rudolf Nureyev have leaped across the stage to Halim El-Dabh’s compositions. This celebrated Egyptian American musician has written, played, and composed music for over 70 years, adding a bit of Egyptian-inspired music to some of America’s best-known orchestras and dance troupes. His primary instruments are the piano and the darabukha. Professor Halim El-Dabh has brought not only the mellow tones of Arabic music to American people, he has also introduced many different music styles from Africa and Latin America. Egyptian American soprano Christine Moore sang his music for his 90th birthday party at Lincoln Center in 2011.
Located in northeast Africa, Egypt is bordered by Israel to the northeast, the Red Sea to the east, the Sudan to the south, Libya to the west, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north. Ninety percent of the land is covered by desert. Ethnic groups include Nubians, Berbers, Bedouins, Arabs, Beja, and Dom. Traditionally, most people lived in harmony in Egypt and the majority of Egyptians who moved to new countries did so for economic or educational reasons. However, many Copts, Jews, and conservative Muslims left because they were concerned about the political climate in Egypt. Large-scale immigration did not begin until the 1960s; Egyptians are some of the most recent immigrants from Arab countries.
Initially, most of the immigrants from Egypt were Coptic Christians, a religious group founded in the city of Alexandria during the ninth century BCE. Coptic means Egyptian. When the ancient Roman Empire ruled Egypt, the Coptics were persecuted because they refused to worship the Roman emperor as a god.
When Coptic Christians immigrate to the United States, they can easily find churches and communities where Christianity is practiced. Today there are over 200 Coptic churches in 40 states from Alaska to Florida. Their domes make them recognizable—an organization of Egyptian American architects help design them. Some feature elaborate tile designs, another invention of ancient Egyptians.
The word tile comes from a French word, tuile, but the root word in Latin is tegula, or “roof tile of baked clay.” In English, the word tile applies to any kind of flat clay applied to any surface. The history of tile production started over 4,000 years ago in Egypt, where they were used to decorate houses. Clay bricks were both sun baked and fire baked, and the first glazes were blue and made from copper. Colorful glazed tiles have been found in different pyramids and other ruins. Islamic artists perfected the manufacturing process and made tiles more decorative and intricate with geometric mosaic designs.
Tile art was used in Moorish Spain but did not spread to other parts of Europe until almost the 13th century. The methods used in the tile-making industry were closely guarded secrets passed down from fathers to sons. Improvement in tile production introduced firing kilns that hardened the tiles and made it possible to glaze them. Designs were often painted beneath the glaze, but soon the glazes themselves added to the artistic value of the tile. Advances in the field continue to this day.
You’ve heard of garage bands? Well, Nawal Motawi started her career as a garage artist! She was inspired by the tile craft of ancient civilizations as well as the American Arts and Crafts movement, so she set up a workshop in a garage to craft Christmas tree ornaments and sold them at the local farmer’s market. In 1992, one of Motawi’s customers hired her to design and create a fireplace, and it ended up being so spectacular that the word spread. Soon after, she moved to a bigger studio in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and her business grew. Motawi Tileworks has become a highly successful business that produces beautiful and functional masterpieces.
Motawi’s tiles are known for their rich glazes and designs that are mostly inspired by nature and architecture. Though influenced by Arabic techniques, Motawi’s tiles have uniquely American designs. Not only do the stunning tiles grace floors and fireplaces in private homes, but they adorn public libraries, parks, and other public spaces, too.
Covered work area
Unglazed tile in any size
Ceramic paints in blue, green, yellow, orange, and red
Paintbrushes
Water to clean brushes
Shellac or transparent tile glaze
Felt
Scissors
Glue
After air travel became possible, Egyptian Muslims began to immigrate to the United States. Air travel was key, because most practicing Muslims need to travel to Mecca in Saudi Arabia and perform the hajj pilgrimage. There are five pillars in Islam—each pillar is a duty that Muslim people carry out as a pledge to their religion. The hajj is the fifth pillar, and it requires every able-bodied Muslim to travel to Mecca at least once in his or her lifetime. Because the ability to fly halfway around the world would now allow them to keep their commitment to their faith, Egyptian Muslims were able to move to the United States. Another responsibility that all Muslims have is to observe Ramadan, the month when people renew their commitment to practice patience, charity, spirituality, humility, and submissiveness to God. Egyptian Americans observe Ramadan in much the same way as they do in Egypt.
Dahlia Mogahed helps the world understand Islam and coauthored the book Who Speaks for Islam? For six years, she researched and interviewed more than 50,000 Muslims in more than 35 predominantly Muslim nations. It was the biggest study ever done on Muslim people. President Obama appointed her to the White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships.
The Nile is the longest river in the world. Over 4,000 miles long, it runs through 10 countries in Africa before flowing into the Mediterranean Sea. Since Egypt is mainly desert, the land along the Nile was a source of both food and transportation for Ancient Egypt, as it is today. Most Egyptian communities are located near it. It is usually considered a disaster when a river floods, but this is not the case for the Nile. Ancient civilizations depended on the annual summer flood to deposit silt onto the riverbanks. This black silt was what gave the river one of its Ancient Egyptian names, Ar, which means “black.” Another name given to the river is Iteru, meaning “great river.” Most of the cultural and historic sites of Ancient Egypt are found along this great waterway.
Travel in ancient and modern Egypt includes a variety of boats. The Nile has always been a great way to move and to transport goods and equipment from one part of Egypt to another. Before electricity and batteries, candles were used to light the paths of all those who set sail on the Nile. The boats glimmered with lights from lanterns made of brass and glass, called fanouses. These traditional lights are still used in Ramadan celebrations today, much like candles are used in Buddhist, Hindu, Jewish, and Christian rituals. People fast during the day and come out after dark—the fanouses light their way as they visit one another’s homes. Children carry their fanouses in the streets and sing special Ramadan songs to celebrate the holy month.
Fanous lanterns traditionally made in Egypt are shaped from brass with geometric patterns drilled into the metal. Some craftsmen weld metal shapes around tinted glass, while others insert glass slabs within the metal frame. Fanous makers set up shop in Khan El-Khalili, a marketplace so old and famous that no visit to Egypt is ever complete without seeing it. It is not unusual to find sixth- and seventh-generation fanous-making craftsmen, and they take great pride in their work. Most fanouses that are handled by children are plastic and battery operated. Traditionally, candles were used to light the lanterns.
Adult supervision required
Covered work area
Clean, clear plastic jar at least 4 inches wide, with a lid—try to find a many-sided jar like the one fancy jams come in
Ruler
Hammer and nail
Acrylic paints in any colors, including gold
Paintbrushes
Water for cleaning brushes
Gold or silver glitter
1 foot of gold cording
Tissue paper, any bright color
Permanent markers, any colors, including black
Glue
Scissors
Toilet paper or paper towel roll
Flat-bottomed plastic gems
Battery-operated tea light
In 1970 a dam was built along the Nile that stopped the flooding. This changed how farming was done in Egypt, but the water from the river is still used to grow a variety of crops like wheat and broad beans, called ful (fava beans). Fava beans, an Egyptian staple, are used to make falafel. Falafel means “little bite” and is called ta’miyyah in Egypt. The deep-fried patty is often made with chickpeas in the United States. It was first invented in Alexandria, Egypt, some say by the Coptic people as a replacement for meat during Lent. Since Alexandria is a port, sailors from all over took the delicious little patties home, and eventually falafel became a popular fast food all over the Middle East and now around the world.
Adult supervision required
Covered work area
15.5-ounce can fava beans or chickpeas
Colander Food processor
1 tablespoon flour
2 green onions
1 clove garlic
½ cup chopped parsley
½ cup chopped cilantro
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon paprika
¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon pepper
½ teaspoon baking soda Small ice cream scoop
1/3 cup flour in a small bowl
Large frying pan
Enough corn oil to fill the frying pan 2 inches deep
4 pieces of pita bread
Salad of lettuce and diced tomatoes
Makes 4 sandwiches
We often hear the term Egyptian cotton. It is yet another famous Egyptian crop nourished by the Nile waters. The word cotton is derived from the Arabic word kotn. Cotton is made into clothing, towels, and bedsheets. Egyptian cotton used to be very expensive, but thanks to advances in technology, items made of Egyptian cotton have become more affordable. The prized cotton has longer fibers than other cottons, making items soft, luxurious, highly absorbent, and long lasting. Today, different kinds of cotton are grown in Egypt, but the best quality is grown in the Lower Egypt area. Fabrics made with this Lower Egyptian cotton never look frayed or shabby, even after years of use. Varieties of Egyptian cotton are also grown in the United States. Evidence of similar types of this useful plant has been found in archaeological sites in the United States dating back several thousand years. Today the United States is the world’s top exporter of cotton. Pima cotton, for which the United States is known, was formerly called American-Egyptian cotton. Its new name was given in honor of the Pima Native Americans who grew the cotton in Arizona starting in 1910.
Attorney Mira Riad’s family owns a luxury-textile company. She grew up in a wealthy suburb of New York City, far away from poor neighborhoods. But she felt drawn to helping the less privileged, especially orphaned children in Egypt. Riad started the Littlest Lamb Organization, which built and supports a home for orphaned children near Cairo, Egypt. Kids live in the family-style orphanage until they are ready to go to college, which is paid for by the organization. Although she has never had children or celebrated their Sebou, Mira Riad is a mom to hundreds of kids, her “little lambs.”
A kaftan, which is a floor-length robe usually made of cotton, is often loose fitting and well suited to Egypt’s warm weather. Its flowing, free design allows air to circulate around the body, which, along with the cotton material, makes for very cooling articles of clothing. Kaftans are worn by both men and women and are slipped over the head. Women often embroider the top part of their kaftans, while men generally wear them plain or decorated with vertical stripes.
Adult supervision required
60-inch square white tablecloth in any fabric
6 safety pins
Tape measure
Pinking shears
Fabric marker
Fabric glue
Rickrack in various lengths and colors
2 yards ribbon, any color
Egyptian Americans bring their language to the United States as well as their ceremonies and recipes. They speak Arabic with a special Egyptian lilt. Most Egyptian dialects are similar, although some areas have been influenced by the Nubian language. Egyptian Arabic pronunciation is much softer than classical Arabic. In many ways, Egyptian dialect among Arab languages is similar in tone to the Italian language among European languages. During Ramadan, children sing a song about a sultan’s daughter dressed in a kaftan. You can make your own tune or just say the beautiful poem. It sounds nice in English, too.
Ramadan has come (Wahawi ya wahawi. Ee yo ha.) (the chorus that is repeated throughout)
The sultan’s daughter (Bin til sultan. Ee yo ha.)
Is clad in a kaftan (Labsa Oftan. Ee yo ha.)
Ramadan has come (Wahawi ya wahawi. Ee yo ha.)
Most Egyptian Americans are from Egyptian cities where people wear Western-style clothing. Some Egyptian fashion and jewelry designers have been inspired by the high fashions of Europe, and many Americans have worn fashions designed by Egyptian American Issac Mizrahi. In rural areas, women are known for wearing bangles and elaborate necklaces to enhance their out-fits. Ornately decorated cuff bracelets that were worn by both men and women in the time of the pharaohs remain popular even today.
Cuff bracelets are usually made of silver, gold, or copper and decorated with inscriptions and gems. Today many Egyptian artisans are still inspired by designs from the time of the pharaohs. Design your own cuff bracelet. You can make one for each arm.
Covered work area
Ruler
Pencil
Empty toilet paper roll
Scissors White glue
1 piece of heavy-duty foil, 8 inches by 10 inches
Plastic gems and small rocks in various colors
Stormwind is in terrible trouble! The city defends itself against the orcs in the video game Warcraft: Orcs & Humans. This first of real-time strategy games was developed by Egyptian American Allen Adham, and the technology changed video gaming forever. And speaking of “real time,” have you heard of a femtosecond? It is one quadrillionth of a second, and in 1999, Ahmad Zewail won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his pioneering work in the field of femtochemistry, making him the first Egyptian American to win the prestigious award. The Apollo astro-nauts radioed from the moon, “Tell the king we’re bringing him something from that little crater.” They were referring to NASA scientist Dr. Farouk El-Baz, who chose the landing site on the moon. Egyptian Americans can be found working as scientists and inventors in many different areas.
Egyptian Americans grace the airwaves from the movie screen to your living room television. Hoda Kotb cohosts the NBC Today show and works as a correspondent on NBC’s Dateline. Laugh it up with Asaad Kelada, who directed funny shows like Sabrina the Teenage Witch and Sister Sister. Actress Wendie Malick is in Alvin and the Chipmunks and Wild Horse Annie. Rami Said Malek plays Pharaoh Ahkmenrah in the Night at the Museum movies and Benjamin in The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn. On a serious note, award-winning film maker Jehane Noujaim directed Mokattam, an Arabic film about a garbage-collecting village near Cairo. Suzy Kassem is a director and writer for kids’ films, most notably Harmony Parker.
An estimated 800,000 to 2 million Americans can claim Egyptian heritage. The largest concentrations live in New Jersey, New York, California, Illinois, Florida, and Texas. Egyptian American kids play games at the King Tut Festival held by the Saint Antonius Coptic Orthodox Church in Hayward, California, and compete in the Girls Table Tennis Tournament at the Worcester Islamic Center in Massachusetts. Many aspire to become writers like award-winning journalist Mona Eltahawy, who stands up for women’s rights, or professor Pauline Kaldas, who teaches writing. Egyptian American Sam Khalifa was shortstop for the Pittsburgh Pirates from 1982 to 1986, making him the first Arab American Muslim to play in the major leagues. From coast to coast and from Sebou ceremonies to school soccer teams, Egyptian Americans are part of American communities.
