Christmas

On the New York Times website on a banner on the top of the website was written "Today's Christmas remember those most in need." The last couple days everyone was running around for their last minute Christmas shopping. The last couple weeks people were buying Christmas trees and decorating their houses. And since Black Friday (the day after Thanksgiving), Christmas music has been playing on the radio. This is what's been going on in America. 

In Egypt, life has been continuing as usual. The same songs are playing in the taxis. There are lights up all over the place, but that's not because it's Christmas; colorful lights just tend to light up the many buildings at night. And there are no Christmas Trees. Many people don't even know that Christmas is the 25th of December (although everyone knows about Christmas). Furthermore,  the Coptic Christians -- the only sizeable Christian denomination in Egypt -- celebrate Christmas on the 7th of January. 

Just like Christmas, during Ramadan, families get together, streets and homes are decorated, seasonal television shows and movies are on TV, and people are supposed to remember the needy by giving alms to the poor. 

Our holiday season is Late November to the New Year's, their's is during Ramadan (a month that changes every year because the Islamic calendar doesn't directly correspond to the Gregorian calendar).

It was weird being in Egypt with a lack of Christmas spirit, but it's really not a lack of spirit at all, just a different holiday schedule