Smelling of the Zephyr

As it turns out this is the Egyptian national holiday, Sham el-Nessim. It appears to go back to the very mists of antiquity, although when Egypt went Christian the Coptic church got into the act and the date was fixed in relation to the Eastern observation of Easter. With the Muslim conquest they embraced the holiday, and today it is celebrated as a national event by, it appears, all Egyptians…

Wikipedia cites Edward Lane’s book Manners and Customs of the Modern Egyptians, modern in 1834:

A custom termed “Shemm en-Nessem” (or the Smelling of the Zephyr) is observed on the first day of the Khamaseen. Early in the morning of this day, many persons, especially women, break an onion, and smell it; and in the course of the forenoon many of the citizens of Cairo ride or walk a little way into the country, or go in boats, generally northward, to take the air, or, as they term it, smell the air, which on that day they believe to have a wonderfully beneficial effect. The greater number dine in the country or on the river.

Today it is a time for picnicking and walks in gardens or the country.

I find it quite interesting that one of the traditional foods are colored boiled eggs…

As it turns out here in frozen southern New England, it is a bright day.

Perhaps we should bundle up a bit, and take a walk…