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Sham el Nessim
Egypt

Sham el Nessim 2024, 2025 and 2026 in Egypt

Sham el Nessim is an Egyptian public holiday marking the beginning of springtime. It always comes the day after Eastern Orthodox Easter, as calculated by the Coptic Church, but it is not really a Christian holiday as such.

YearDateDayHoliday
20246 MayMonSham el Nessim
202521 AprMonSham el Nessim
202613 AprMonSham el Nessim
Please scroll down to end of page for previous years' dates.

The holiday actually dates back to the ancient Egyptians over 3,000 years ago. The name Sham el Nessim means “renewal of life”, referring to the new life that flourishes during the spring and to the ancient Egyptian belief that the day marks the beginning of the creation of the world.

On this day, it is traditional to eat “fesikh”, a kind of salty, dried, mullet fish that has been allowed to ferment. Lettuce and scallions are also on the menu, as well as painted boiled eggs. Each type of food represents ideas of the creation tradition.

Previous Years

YearDateDayHoliday
202317 AprMonSham el Nessim
202225 AprMonSham el Nessim
20213 MayMonSham el Nessim
202020 AprMonSham el Nessim
201929 AprMonSham el Nessim
20189 AprMonSham el Nessim
201717 AprMonSham el Nessim